He led his teams to national and Olympic championships on the basketball court, but his latest victory in a court of law is a win for charities in his adopted city of Chicago.
NBA All-Star Basketball legend Michael Jordan is taking all the award money from a lawsuit settlement and donating it to 23 nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of the city’s youth. 23 is Jordan’s jersey number.
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He won $8.9 million in a judgement against supermarket chain Dominick’s in August, after they used his likeness and jersey number in a magazine ad in 2009 without his permission. He recently settled the case, and a second, similar court action against the grocery chain Jewel-Osco, owned by the same parent company.
Forbes magazine estimated earlier this year, Jordan’s name and image is worth roughly $100 million a year for product and company endorsements.
“The 23 charities I’ve chosen to make donations to all support the health, education and well-being of the kids of Chicago,” Jordan said in a statement. “Chicago has given me so much and I want to give back to its kids — the city’s future.”
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Terms of the settlement won’t allow Jordan or the other parties to talk about the actual amount. Jordan has said throughout the lawsuits that the issue was never about the money, but to protect the value of his name in endorsing companies or services.
His spokesperson, Estee Portnoy, told the Chicago Tribune that Jordan’s staff had a “fun week” calling the charities and surprising them with news of the donations.
(WATCH the video HERE from The Chicago Tribune) — Photos: Activeda, CC; Department of Defense