July 30, 2020
Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand Announce Donations to the NAACP LDF, FICPFM and Black Voters Matter
Last month, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand committed to donating $100 million over 10 years to directly impact the fight against systemic racism. Now the brand has announced that the donations will be focused in three priority areas: social justice, economic justice, and education and awareness, according to a recent press release.
“I’m all in with Jordan Brand, the Jordan family, and our partners, who share a commitment to address the historical inequality that continues to plague Black communities in the U.S.,” says NBA legend Michael Jordan.
“There is a long history of oppression against Black Americans that hold us back from full participation in American society. We understand that one of the main ways we can change systemic racism is at the polls. We know it will take time for us to create the change we want to see, but we are working quickly to take action for the Black community’s voice to be heard.”
The initial partners were selected based on their ability to create an impact now. The first phase of donations includes $1 million each to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. (LDF) and the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM), plus $500,000 to Black Voters Matter to support reformative practices that drive real change in the Black community.
“The $100 million commitment was just the start. We are moving from commitment to action. Our initial partners can directly impact the social and political well-being of the Black community,” says Craig Williams, president of Jordan Brand. “We will have a disciplined focus on social justice, economic justice, and education, as the most effective ways for us to eliminate the systemic racism that remains in society.”
Jordan Brand has been focused on providing access to education, mentorship, and opportunity for Black youth through the existing Jordan Wings Program. These commitments will continue with increasing grants to U.S.-based Wings partners who are fighting to help youth overcome the obstacles of systemic racism in Black communities.