Michael Jordan makes $2 million donation to food shelter to help those facing hunger

NBA legend Michael Jordan is feeling the holiday spirit! Never one to shy away from philanthropy, the Charlotte Hornets owner has once again proved his generosity by making a $2 million donation to help those facing hunger. The hunger-relief organization, Feeding America, announced the news on Twitter Wednesday, writing: "An incredible gift to be thankful for – NBA legend Michael Jordan is donating $2 million to help our neighbors facing hunger! Every action makes a difference." The donation, Jordan said in a statement, is derived from proceeds from ESPN's The Last Dance documentary series.

"In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks. I am proud to be donating additional proceeds from The Last Dance to Feeding America and its member food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago to help feed America’s hungry," Jordan said in the statement. Earlier this year, Forbes reported that Jordan planned to donate his entire share of the proceeds from the ten-part series — which was expected "to reach at least $3 million to $4 million" — to charitable causes. The latest donation appears to be an extension of that plan.

According to NBC Sports, in June, the Jordan Brand announced a 10-year plan to donate $100 million to "organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice, and greater access to education." Of this, $1 million has already flowed into the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund while another $1 million went to the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement and $500,000 to combat voter suppression in Black communities in the United States. Speaking of the initiative just days after the police killing of George Floyd, he said: "Black lives matter. This isn't a controversial statement."

"Until the ingrained racism that allows our country's institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people," Jordan added, reports The Hill. Shortly before announcing the donation, the 57-year-old also condemned the brutal killing of Floyd and said that his "heart goes out to the family of George Floyd and to the countless others whose lives have been brutally and senselessly taken through acts of racism and injustice. Meanwhile, as the NBA pointed out, these are only a few of the many donations Jordan has made around the U.S. to benefit multiple causes.

"In 2017, Jordan donated $7 million to help build medical clinics that were tabbed to help at-risk communities in Charlotte. In 2018, he gave $2 million to help with Hurricane Florence recovery efforts in North Carolina. Last year, he donated $1 million to relief efforts in the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian," the association stated. Furthermore, since becoming the majority owner of the Hornets, the basketball legend has reportedly "given away more than $3 million for causes related to education, hunger, wellness, and the military as of February 2019."

Jordan's latest donation comes just a month after he opened a medical clinic in Charlotte to provide treatment to those uninsured amid the ongoing pandemic. According to Feeding America — which has a network of over 200 food banks — millions of Americans have been turning to food shelters for help. This rush has resulted in 80 percent of the nation's food banks serving more people than they were ahead of the holiday a year ago.