CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Bobcats and their leader, Michael Jordan, try to make an impact on their community and Monday they did just that in a big way.
Jordan and the team made a major donation to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools -- the largest donation in the school system's history.
Bobcats mascot Rufus and all-star Gerald Wallace were on hand for the donation, high-fiving dozens of Eastway Middle School students who were also there.
All are celebrating a major victory for CMS students.
“I know I can play now,” said Reggie Smith.
Smith’s dad says they weren’t sure he’d get to play sports because of the $50 price tag now attached.
“That $50 helps a whole lot,” said Reggie Smith, Sr.
For the first time ever, CMS is making students pay to play as a way of dealing with the budget cuts.
Eastway Middle's football coach, Rodney Hasaan, says he worried most of his kids would have to drop sports.
"When I heard about pay to play, I told my coach, 'I don’t know if we're going to field a team or not,'" said Hasaan.
CMS Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman said, “This gift will mean students can play, not just those families that can afford an athletics fee, but all students. It means equal opportunity and access.”
Team owner Michael Jordan and the Bobcats donated $250,000 to middle school sports.
“It’s really about who we are as an organization, about Michael wanting to connect back to his home roots in North Carolina. It’s about providing an opportunity that he had as a young person going through middle school and having the opportunity to play three sports,” said the Bobcats' Chief Operating Officer Fred Whitfield.
It's an opportunity Jordan wanted to make sure all kids will have.
“This is one very near and dear to his heart, but would also do a lot of good for kids in the community, not just one small segment of kids,” Whitfield said.
The money makes sure middle schoolers on free and reduced lunch will not have to pay to play.
Last year, half of all middle school students qualified for that program.
