Billionaire basketball icon Michael Jordan has made good on his promise to donate the multimillion-dollar settlement he just won from a Chicago-area supermarket chain to 23 local charities instead of pocketing the money.
“I care deeply about the city of Chicago and have such incredible memories from my years there,” Jordan said. “The 23 charities I’ve chosen to make donations to all support the health, education and well-being of the kids of Chicago. Chicago has given me so much and I want to give back to its kids — the city’s future.”
Jordan, 52, recently successfully sued grocer Dominick’s Finer Foods for using his likeness in a 2009 Sports Illustrated ad without his consent. Ironically enough, the ad was to congratulate him on his Hall of Fame induction. He has maintained since the onset of the trial that it was “never about the money” and that he and his team of advisers are very meticulous about when and where his likeness should be used.
Estee Portnoy, Jordan’s spokeswoman, could not disclose the size of the donations made, but revealed the staff had a “fun week” in calling the charities to inform them of their pending donations.
The charities to which Jordan donated include: After School Matters, Casa Central, Chicago Scholars, Chicago Youth Programs, Children’s Literacy Initiative, Christopher House, Common Threads, Erikson Institute, Gary Comer Youth Center, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund — Illinois, KEEN Chicago, La Casa Norte, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish Illinois, New Moms, New Teacher Center, The Ounce of Prevention Fund, Project Exploration, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Sinai Health System, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois and Tutoring Chicago.
