Photo © JD Lasica via Flickr Commons.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he will donate $1 million to the Dallas Police Department in order to support its response in the wake of Saturday’s shooting at gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando.
The money will fund approximately 16,000 hours of overtime for the department as it increases counterterrorism measures, according to a Wednesday statement from the city. After killing 49 people at the Pulse nightclub, the gunman died in a shootout with the police.
“I’m proud to be able to help the City of Dallas,” Cuban said in a statement.
Cuban also sent an email to CNBC on Wednesday, saying, “It was the right thing to do and I will do more of it in a future.”
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Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings lauded the billionaire for “stepping up in a time of need.” Dallas Police Chief David Brown also thanked Cuban, saying: “These funds will be used primarily to protect the LGBT community. We will earmark and track the expenditure of these funds to ensure its effective use in creating a safe environment.”
In March 2015, Cuban pledged his support to Texas Wins, a non-profit organization dedicated to combatting LGBT discrimination. “I’m glad to see Texas Wins taking up the charge here and making a pro-business case to end discrimination in the Lone Star State,” he said in a press release at the time. “I have little tolerance for discrimination in my businesses, nor do a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Texas is a beacon for business and should follow corporate America’s lead on this one.”
A spokesman for the city of Dallas declined to provide further comment.
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