Michael Jordan donates $2 million in proceeds from 'The Last Dance' to food banks

Updated

Michael Jordan received plenty of recognition as ESPN’s “The Last Dance” aired during the sports drought created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he’s using money from the documentary to feed the hungry.

The basketball legend announced Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, that he is donating $2 million in proceeds from “The Last Dance” to Feeding America and its member food banks in North Carolina, South Carolina and Chicago.

“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,” Jordan said Wednesday in a statement. “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.”

Michael Jordan’s charitable contributions continue

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan speaks to the media about hosting the NBA All-Star basketball game during a news conference in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Michael Jordan isn't receiving a cent from "The Last Dance." (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

It’s been a particularly charitable year for Jordan in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against racial injustice sparked by the killing of George Floyd.

Jordan had previously announced he would donate the entirety of his proceeds from “The Last Dance” — estimated by Forbes to be in the range of $3 million to $4 million — to mentorship nonprofit Friends of the Children. This $2 million appears to be an extra windfall from the docuseries, and a welcome one for those in need this holiday season.

This June, Jordan and his personal brand pledged to donate $100 million over the next 10 years to causes seeking social justice and greater access to education. He followed that up by opening a second health clinic in Charlotte in October.

Additionally, as of mid-November, Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets are one of the few NBA teams that have not laid off a single employee or imposed salary reductions, per the Charlotte Business Journal.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Advertisement