Celtics
The JLH Fund was established after Holiday pledged the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary — $5 million — to combat systemic racism and economic injustice.
Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has been named the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy.
In making the announcement on Wednesday, the NBA revealed it will also donate $100,000 to the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund).
Holiday was selected from a group of five finalists for pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to engage, empower, and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically disadvantaged.
It marks another honor for the veteran, who won his second NBA Sportsmanship Award last week, becoming the first Celtic to receive the honor given to a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court and is voted on by current NBA players.
The JLH Fund was established after Holiday pledged the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary — $5 million — to combat systemic racism and economic injustice. It has distributed more than $5.3 million in grants and delivered more than 400 hours of coaching and support to nearly 200 businesses across the US.
“Since entering the league, Jrue Holiday has dedicated himself to helping others in their times of greatest need and pursuing a more just society for all,” said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. “The selflessness that defines his game is even more evident in the work he and his wife, Lauren, do off the floor to create more opportunities for a generation of youth who might have otherwise been overlooked.”
Through the JLH Fund, the Holidays launched the Boston Creator Incubator + Accelerator in partnership with Boston Xchange (founded by teammate Jaylen Brown). This initiative supports Boston-based creators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities by providing up to $100,000 in grant capital per business, along with elite coaching and access to top institutions such as MIT, Harvard, and Suffolk University.
Previous Social Justice Champion award winners include Carmelo Anthony, Reggie Bullock, Stephen Curry, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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