Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton** and his wife **Jade Jones** announced their **\$12.9 million donation** to a nationwide **Homeless Shelter Initiative**, with heartfelt motivations rooted in their past.
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# **BREAKING NEWS: Tyrese Haliburton & Jade Jones Donate Entire \$12.9M Bonus to Fund Housing for the Homeless—“This Was Always the Plan”**
In a world where millionaire athletes often make headlines for their lifestyles, **Tyrese Haliburton** and **Jade Jones** are making headlines for something else entirely—**compassion, commitment, and community.**
Earlier today, the Indiana Pacers point guard and All-Star stunned the sports world by announcing that he and his wife are **donating the entirety of his \$12.9 million postseason bonus and sponsorship earnings** to the **National Homeless Shelter Initiative**.
Their donation will directly help build **150 housing units** and provide **300 shelter beds** across key U.S. cities, starting with **Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Sacramento, and Chicago**—cities that shaped their journey and where homelessness has quietly surged.
> “We’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand,” Haliburton said during an emotional press conference. “It’s not just people on corners. It’s veterans, single moms, kids with backpacks going to school and back to a car at night. I promised myself—if I ever had the means, I’d do something about it.”
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## **The Numbers Behind the Gift**
The \$12.9 million contribution comes from:
* A **\$5 million playoff bonus** for leading the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals
* Approximately **\$7.9 million in endorsement earnings** from brands including Adidas, Gatorade, and JBL—much of which he redirected to the cause
And he’s not stopping there.
The Haliburtons also announced the creation of the **“12 Foundation for Shelter & Stability,”** a nonprofit dedicated to building long-term, community-owned transitional housing near schools, job centers, and mental health support systems.
The first shelter—named **“House of Hope: Indy”**—is set to break ground in August and open by Spring 2026.
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## **More Than A Check: A Hands-On Mission**
According to Jade Jones, this wasn’t a last-minute gesture or PR move. It’s been **years in the making.**
> “Even while Tyrese was in college, we’d talk about what we’d do if we ever ‘made it,’” she said. “Helping people get off the streets was always number one. Not a dream—an expectation.”
In fact, the couple has already:
* **Partnered with Habitat for Humanity and United Way**
* Spent over 60 hours volunteering at shelters since 2023
* Personally met with 47 families across 5 cities to understand what they needed most
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## **Why This Cause? A Personal Connection**
Haliburton, now 25, has rarely spoken in depth about his early struggles—but today he opened up.
> “There were nights we didn’t know if the lights would stay on,” he shared. “I’ve had teammates who showered at school because home didn’t have running water. Jade and I have friends—college educated, working two jobs—sleeping on couches right now. So when people say ‘homelessness is a choice’? Nah. It’s a system that’s failed too many for too long.”
He recounted one particularly formative experience in high school, when a teammate confided that his family was living in a van.
> “That moment never left me,” he said, visibly emotional. “He was a better player than me—quicker, stronger—but the world never gave him a shot. That’s who this is for.”
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## **The Plan: Real Housing, Real Dignity**
What sets this initiative apart is its **“community-first” design model**, which prioritizes:
* **Safe transitional housing**, not just temporary beds
* **On-site counselors**, mental health support, and job training
* **Childcare centers**, allowing single parents to work or go back to school
* **Dignity-first policies**, where residents participate in management decisions
Each 150-unit complex will include:
* 2 community kitchens
* A free clinic operated in partnership with local health departments
* A “Path to Stability” hub: one-on-one mentorship, legal support, and credit rebuilding services
The goal is not just shelter—but **stability**.
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## **Community Reactions: Indianapolis Responds**
In Haliburton’s adopted home of **Indianapolis**, the response has been swift and overwhelming.
Mayor **Joe Hogsett** called the donation “a historic act of civic leadership,” announcing that the city will **match \$1 million** in funding toward the new shelter.
Local pastor **Reverend Lisa Coltrane**, who runs a downtown outreach program, said:
> “It’s one thing to give money. It’s another to give your heart, your name, and your *time.* That’s what Tyrese and Jade have done.”
Social media, meanwhile, erupted in praise.
* 🟦 Twitter Trend: **#HaliburtonHelps**
* 🟩 IG Reels of Tyrese serving meals at a shelter went viral
* 🟥 TikTok youth activists launched the “12 Steps to Shelter” challenge to raise awareness
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## **Other Athletes Speak Out**
Haliburton’s peers were quick to praise the move—and some even hinted they’ll follow his lead.
### Chris Paul:
> “Leadership isn’t always on the court. This is how you use a platform.”
### Candace Parker:
> “Tyrese and Jade are doing what we *all* should be doing—building real change.”
### Damian Lillard:
> “Real one. Straight up. Salute.”
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## **The Bigger Picture: Homelessness in 2025**
According to a **recent U.S. HUD report**, over **653,000 Americans** are experiencing homelessness—**a 12% rise** from 2022. Experts cite inflation, housing shortages, mental health gaps, and criminal record barriers as major contributors.
In Indianapolis alone, over **6,000 people** sleep in shelters or on the streets each night. And the number of **youth experiencing homelessness** has tripled in just five years.
> “We can’t hoop, sing, or post our way out of this,” Haliburton said. “But we *can* care. And build. And show up.”
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## **Jade Jones: “We Move Together”**
While much of the spotlight often lands on Tyrese, **Jade Jones** has played a massive role in shaping this initiative. A former college soccer player turned educator and youth advocate, Jade is the one overseeing the **education integration** of each shelter site.
Each housing complex will include:
* After-school tutoring
* Tech labs for teens
* FAFSA and GED support for adults
* Sports clinics run by volunteer athletes
> “Kids don’t stop dreaming just because they lose a home,” she said. “They just need someone to say, ‘You still matter.’”
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## **What’s Next: The 12 Foundation Vision**
The Haliburtons’ **12 Foundation** isn’t stopping with this donation. Their 3-year plan includes:
* 5 shelter sites by 2026
* 15 “micro-shelters” for rural communities
* Annual \$1M scholarship fund for housing-insecure youth
* An upcoming **documentary special**, produced by Ava DuVernay, called *“No Place Like Here”*, premiering on Netflix next summer
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## **The Press Conference: Humble, Hopeful, Human**
Standing side-by-side at the podium, dressed simply in matching navy blue suits with “12F” pins, the Haliburtons answered every question with grace.
When asked what they hope others will take away from today, Jade simply said:
> “That change doesn’t start in Congress. It starts in your city. In your soul.”
Tyrese, placing a hand over his chest, added:
> “This isn’t about being generous. This is about being decent.”
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## **Final Word: Legacy Redefined**
At just 25, Tyrese Haliburton already boasts:
* Two NBA All-Star appearances
* Olympic gold with Team USA
* A max contract with the Indiana Pacers
* One of the highest assist-to-turnover ratios in league history
But with today’s announcement, he’s added a different kind of stat line to his legacy.
> **\$12.9 million donated. 150 homes. 300 beds. Countless lives changed.**
And for Haliburton and Jade, that’s the only scoreboard that matters.
> “We don’t want buildings named after us,” Tyrese said, smiling. “We want full buildings, full hearts—and futures worth fighting for.”
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**Stay tuned for more updates on the Haliburtons’ 12 Foundation, groundbreaking dates for House of Hope, and how you can volunteer, donate, or get involved.**
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