CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Michael Jordan and his Bobcats NBA team will donate $250,000 to middle-school athletics programs in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.
The NBA hall-of-famer and North Carolina native will announce the gift Monday.
Jordan, who made a fortune playing in the NBA and marketing his image as one of the world's best-known athletes, talked about being a contributor to the Charlotte community when he bought the Bobcats this spring.
"We investigated the situation. We looked for ways to help middle schools and this was one of the options presented to us," Jordan said. "We took it because of the impact on middle schools and giving them the opportunity to play sports and as motivation for education as well."
Charlotte schools cut $1.25 million cut from athletics programs this year and school officials announced a plan to charge students $50 for middle-schoolers and $100 high-schoolers who play. There are 32 middle schools in the Charlotte area with teams in 13 sports. About 6,500 students play middle school sports.
Other organizations have made donations to the schools' athletic programs, but the Bobcats' is the largest.
"What a great example of a group in the community stepping in to help kids," Charlotte schools superintendent Peter Gorman said. "Sometimes we forget the impact of what happens on our fields and our courts and how it impacts what happens in the classrooms and beyond. This saves us from turning kids away."
Jordan attended middle school and high school in Wilmington before playing college basketball at the University of North Carolina and becoming one of the world's best known athletes in the NBA.
Bobcats President Fred Whitfield said the gift is evidence of Jordan's commitment to the community.
"Michael made it clear when he bought the team that this was a legacy play for him and he wanted to make a commitment to his North Carolina roots," Whitfield said. "This is his commitment and it's a great first step."
