Michael Jordan Picks 23 Chicago Charities to Share Lawsuit Money

CHICAGO, IL - He still loves us.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan may be the owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and far removed from his playing days with the Bulls, but when it came to divvying up the net proceeds from his multimillion-dollar lawsuit win against Dominick’s and Jewel-Osco, it was 23 Chicago charities that got the call.

“I care deeply about the city of Chicago and have such incredible memories from my years there,” Jordan said in a news release Tuesday. “The 23 charities I’ve chosen to make donations to all support the health, education and well-being of the kids of Chicago. Chicago has given me so much and I want to give back to its kids — the city’s future.”

Earlier this year, Jordan won an $8.9 million jury verdict against Dominick’s after suing them for using his name and likeness in a 2009 Sports Illustrated advertisement commemorating His Airness’ enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He later settled that case and a similar one against Jewel-Osco, which is also owned by Cerberus Capital.

The amount of the settlement was undisclosed due to a confidentiality clause, but the Chicago Tribune and others have reported millions were available for charity even after Jordan paid attorneys for six years of work on the case.

The 23 charities he selected were After School Matters, Casa Central, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago Scholars, Chicago Youth Programs, Children’s Literacy Initiative, Christopher House, Common Threads, Erikson Institute, Gary Comer Youth Center, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund — Illinois, KEEN Chicago, La Casa Norte, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish Illinois, New Moms, New Teacher Center, The Ounce of Prevention Fund, Project Exploration, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Sinai Health System, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois and Tutoring Chicago.

During the trial, Jordan maintained the lawsuit was “never about the money” and promised to donate any net award to charity. But 23? Thanks, Mike.

more via the Chicago Tribune