The Holidays gave Jrue’s full 2019-20 NBA restart salary of $5 million or more to businesses and organizations in several cities. On Monday, the Greater New Orleans Foundation recognized Jrue and Lauren for their kindness. 

Swin Cash, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development for the Pelicans received the award on their behalf at the “Celebration of Black Philanthropy” event held by GNOF every year. Every year, the event takes place in August. However, in 2020, it was held virtually and moved to September because of recent storms along the Gulf Coast.

With a promise to give $1.5 million to groups and companies in New Orleans, $1 million to those in Indianapolis, where Lauren is from, and $1.5 million to those in Los Angeles and Compton, the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund was set up this summer. It will give an extra $1 million to small companies owned by Black people in 10 U.S. cities and $500,000. It will also give $500,000. to historically Black colleges and universities.

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On Monday, Cash said, “I’ve only been in New Orleans for a year, but I can tell you one thing: It’s been amazing to see how Jrue and Lauren have given not only their money and time to our youth but now they’re taking it a step further.”

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Jrue is the Pelicans player with the longest stay. He joined the team in a trade in 2013 and has now played for seven seasons in New Orleans. The guard has played in 415 games for the Pelicans, which ranks him fourth all-time in that area for the team. Off the court, he and his wife have always done good things for the Crescent City. Lauren and their daughter J.T. are also well-known at home games in the Smoothie King Center. Lauren was a star player for the USA women’s soccer team. She won two Olympic gold medals and two World Cups.

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“This year I’m so proud to have known and worked with Lauren and Jrue,” Cash said. We were amazed to see how they moved as a family and how dedicated they were to their faith and to their neighborhood. It makes me so happy to see that they are still working on it even though the season is over.