Celtics' Jayson Tatum, SoFi Partner to Commit over $1M to Help Low-Income Families

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is going to help low-income families buy homes in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

In collaboration with finance company SoFi, which made a $1 million donation to Tatum's charity foundation, the five-time All-Star will use the funds to assist homebuyers from low-income, single-parent families with a down payment on a house.

Speaking to Thalia Beaty of the Associated Press about the partnership with SoFi, Tatum explained the idea was born out of his life being raised by a single mother:

"Me and my mom, we didn't know about investments or savings accounts when we were growing up. But obviously when I got to the NBA and started to make money, we had to ask questions and learn about things. And it was always important for me, even when I was younger. I just knew I wanted to give back and help people that looked like me and grew up like me."

SoFi will contribute the funds to Tatum's foundation over the next three to five years, with the foundation determining how to select recipients of the donations. SoFi will also provide all participants with access to financial advisory services and tools, but they are not required to take out a mortgage through SoFi.

Tatum established his foundation in the same year he was drafted by the Celtics in 2017. Its mission is to "equip children and teens with tools that will empower them to be the positive change they need to see in their communities."

The foundation has hosted numerous charity events in St. Louis and Boston over the years, including a Hurricane relief rally to raise donations for people in Florida and Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Tatum was born in St. Louis and attended high school at Chaminade, located in the Greater St. Louis area. He left the city when he played college basketball at Duke for the 2016-17 season.

The Celtics used the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA draft on Tatum. He has blossomed into one of the best players in the league, leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals four times in the past six seasons.