Derrick RoseBulls point guard Derrick Rose donated $1 million to After School Matters – a Chicago charity that assists in organizing out-of-school apprenticeships for teens. The charity has a program at Simeon Career Academy, Rose’s alma mater.

After School Matters stated that Rose’s donation is the largest ever from the three-time NBA All-Star. “He reached out,” said E. Robbie Robinson, the vice chairman of After School Matters. “There was a conversation around what would be the best way to build a relationship. He and his family concluded this is what they wanted to do and to make a big statement.”

In a statement Rose said, “To have a strong community of people who believe in your potential can make all the difference in the world. So many people have invested in me and I want to do the same for Chicago’s teens.”

The Chicago charity, After School Matters, was founded by the late Chicago first lady Maggie Daley and former Chicago Cultural Affairs Commissioner Lois Weisberg. After School Matters now is led by Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson, who is married to filmmaker George Lucas. Annually the program reaches out to more than 15,000 kids.

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