Michael Jordan. Image via: James Gilbert/ Getty Images
It’s a fitting location, since Wilmington is the town where he grew up, long before six championship rings and a $3.6 billion fortune turned him into one of the most recognizable people on the planet. He has committed $100 million over a decade to groups working on racial equality and social justice. After Hurricane Florence tore through the Carolinas in 2018, he sent $2 million split between the American Red Cross and a regional relief fund, then showed up in Wilmington himself to hand out care packages. He even donated his entire 2001-02 NBA salary to charities tied to the September 11 attacks.
“It’s truly gratifying to know that in less than a year, our first Novant clinic in Wilmington has already made a meaningful impact,” the 14 time All-Star said. The latest chapter opened in East Wilmington, North Carolina, where Jordan just funded his fourth free health clinic. This is not new territory for Jordan. He has backed Make-A-Wish, Habitat for Humanity and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture with major gifts of his own.
The NBA legend added, “Visiting Wilmington last year for the opening was incredibly moving and reinforced just how important access to quality healthcare is for the community.
Under his ownership, the team and its foundation have given away more than $3 million toward education, hunger relief, wellness and military causes, including an annual Thanksgiving event that feeds a thousand families and a book bus program that has put more than 5,000 books into the hands of local students.
We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true,” Motter said of six-time NBA champion. “Michael will be remembered forever,” Jackson said. As majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan has extended that same instinct to the franchise. Jordan chairs the Hornets Foundation, which now touches nearly every corner of the Charlotte community. “Michael using his birthday as a chance to make history for Make-A-Wish speaks to the quality of his character and his loyal dedication to making life better for children with critical illnesses. Jordan was famously cut from his high school varsity team before growing into the player who would win six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. Phil Jackson, his coach through that run, once predicted the rest of that era would fade from memory except for one name. Given everything Jordan has built since he last played, on the court and off it, that prediction is holding up just fine.
