Good Guy Justin Bieber Helps Raise $12,500 For Kobe Bryant's Foundation -- Here's How
Justin Bieber expressed his intense admiration for the late Kobe Bryant by supporting the tribute art of a team of artists. The cartoon he bought started a trend that eventually benefited Kobe's Mamba foundation.
A Good Deed
Out of Justin's good heart, he bought a Kobe-inspired art work from the owners of Idiot Box Art. After creating the one-of-a-kind piece for the 25-year old singer, Tamara Martin, Emily Bright and the other artists in their team started making miniature versions for $200 apiece.
The artists of Idiot Box Art is also donating 24 percent of the profits to the "MambaOnThree Fund."
The cartoon to remember Kobe Bryant by was made in the image of a cute brown bear wearing his signature mamba hoodie. What is pretty cool about this work of art is that it carries Kobe's first number in the hardcourt -- the number 8. The bear is also holding a basketball on one hand and is wearing a pair of Kobe's signature shoes from Nike.
View this post on Instagram@justinbieber A post shared by Idiot Box Art (@idiotboxart) on Feb 3, 2020 at 5:38pm PST
Justin paid for the one-of-a-kind bigger piece for a whopping $1,200. It is one of the only five ever made. He decided to hang it up in his home alongside the skateboard decks.
However, a simple gesture to honor a basketball legend gave birth to a whole lot of help to the community that Kobe himself supported. The Kobe Foundation will be receiving part of the profit, and that surely means a lot.
Sharing The Faith
A lot of people apparently share Justin's fascination with Kobe's fan art. Idiot Box Art ended up making more than 260 mini Mamba bears during its limited sale for two days.
In the end, the creative team was able to raise $12,480 worth of donation for the Kobe Foundation.
View this post on InstagramLast day #Letsgo A post shared by Idiot Box Art (@idiotboxart) on Feb 7, 2020 at 8:06am PST
MambaOnThree is a foundation started by the family of the Black Mamba of the hardcourt himself, Kobe Bryant.
Apart from Kobe and his daughter Gianna, there were seven others who died in the tragic helicopter accident. The goal of the foundation is to provide support for the families of the victims who died in the crash.
Justin purchased the full-size bear in late January. The owners of the Idiot Box Art also shared a photo of their design hanging on the wall of the "Yummy" singer. The ladies behind the art piece also created pieces for the rapper Chief Keef for as much as $40,000.
The art was not the last thing Justin did to honor Kobe and his good works. He was spotted wearing a Lakers jacket while he was with his wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber out and about in New York a few days ago.
Mourning The Death of an Idol
Justin took it to social media to express his disappointment when he learned of Kobe's death.
"It can't be. You always encouraged to be Mamba. Love you man!" Justin wrote. His wife Hailey also shared a message on her feed.
"I don't even know what to say other than I am devastated to the core," Hailey wrote.
Kobe and Gianna's memorial will take place on February 24, 2020, at the Staples Center at 10:00 a.m.
