It’s been almost a week since Jason Collins was signed to the Brooklyn Nets, and thus far the NBA’s welcomed him with open arms. Fans of the league have been equally receptive, as Collins’s jersey quickly became the highest-selling item on the NBA’s online store.
In turn, the NBA has decided to use Collins’s newfound fame and position to do some good: the league has decided to donate proceeds from the sale of the jersey to both the Matthew Shepard Foundation and GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network).
Fittingly enough, the 98 on Jason’s jersey is a tribute to Matthew Shepard, who died in 1998.
According to BuzzFeed, Collins was more than happy to support the two charities: “I’m thrilled to work with the league to support two fantastic organizations, both of which work tirelessly to ensure LGBT youth get the resources and assistance they need to be successful in life.”
If you happen to have $69.96 lying around (they’re not cheap) and you want to buy something and give to charity simultaneously, you might as well give it a shot, right? It’s not often you get a sports league willing to back LGBT causes.
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