Utah Jazz’s Mike Conley Donates $200K To People Impacted By Coronavirus

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley announced he is donating $200k to help people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the organization.

“We’re looked at as the guys who started this whole thing and whatever. But once you step away and you’re able to view things, it is nobody’s fault. Fast forward and now it’s an opportunity for us. We get to be on the forefront of helping change things,” Conley said.

Conley’s donation will help people who have been unhoused and families needing additional food on the table. The money will also help students who have been forced to switch to remote learning.

Community has always been important to me and during the COVID-19 crisis, I’m reminded of the support and sacrifices of others. I will be donating to six organizations in five cities that have been impacted by the effects of this pandemic. #SeeYouSoon pic.twitter.com/BwUldfXqB5

— Mike Conley (@mconley11) May 20, 2020

According to the Jazz, Conley’s donation will be split among these organizations: the Utah Food Bank, CodeCrew in Memphis, Tennessee, the Community Shelter Board and Columbus Urban League in Ohio, the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation, and the New Haven Missionary Baptist Church in Arkansas.

“These communities that I chose are areas that I had a connection with,” Conley said.

Mike Conley Donates In Utah

The organization Conley chose to support in Utah is the Utah Food Bank. The mission of the Utah Foodbank is to fight hunger statewide.

“374,000 Utahns, which equates to 1 in 8 individuals, are at risk of missing a meal today. Even more alarming is that 1 in 7 Utah kids are unsure where their next meal is coming from,” the website states.

Conley’s teammate, Donovan Mitchell, also made a donation to help prevent kids from going hungry. Mitchell’s donation to Granite School District helps support meals for students even when school is not in session.

📖| “My mom’s career in education made me value children and the importance of academics, and I want to make sure that kids can continue to eat a meal while they can’t go to school.”https://t.co/G3z3D7IeZd

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 16, 2020

Mike Conley’s Road To Utah

To understand more about the organizations Conley chose to support with his $200k donation you have to understand his path to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Conley was born in Arkansas, went to middle and high school in Indiana, played college basketball at Ohio State. He then played for the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to the Utah Jazz.

During his time in Memphis, he was known for being extremely engaged in the community and charitable organization. He has continued with the reputation in Salt Lake City with the Utah Jazz.