Basketball legend and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan has decided to donate $10 million to help open two medical clinics in North Carolina. On Monday, in an announcement from Novant Health, the health care system revealed they can now open new clinics in early 2022 in New Hanover County, North Carolina, which is Jordan’s hometown.
The clinics will serve the uninsured or underinsured residents of New Hanover County. “Everyone should have access to quality health care, no matter where they live, or whether or not they have insurance.” said Jordan, in a statement. “Wilmington holds a special place in my heart and it’s truly gratifying to be able to give back to the community that supported me throughout my life.”
This is not the first time that the Chicago Bulls legend has stepped up to help his community. In 2017, Jordan donated $7 million to Novant Health to open two clinics in Charlotte. The commitment came with a pledge to provide resources to communities with little or no health care.
Per Novant Health, Jordan’s clinics in Charlotte have been able to treat over 4,000 patients while also giving out more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccinations.
“This pandemic has exacerbated health equity gaps across our state, making our efforts to close them even more emergent. We look forward to standing these clinics up as quickly as possible to ensure all members of the community have access to necessary medical care” said Novant Health President and CEO Carl Armato. “We are so appreciative of Michael’s unwavering commitment to help us bring affordable care to our communities that need it most. It’s not only an investment in us as a partner, but it’s an investment in each and every person that our clinics can reach,” he added.
The NBA veteran has made it a habit of donating to charitable functions since retiring from the league. Last May, after the tragic death of George Floyd, Jordan revealed that his company, Jordan Brand, would donate $100 million over the next 10 years for “racial equality, social justice, and greater access to education.”
