NBA legend Michael Jordan is celebrating his 60th birthday on February 17 by donating $ 10 million to Make-A-Wish America. Reportedly, his contribution is the largest donation ever received from an individual in the 43-year history of the organization. The 14-time All-Star has been a big supporter since he granted his first wish in 1989.
“For the past 34 years, it’s been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids. Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration. I can’t think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having wishes come true,” Jordan stated in a press release.
He was also named Make-A-Wish Ambassador “for the life-changing impact he has had on wish kids and their families” in 2008. “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 a critical illness. We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true,” said Leslie Motter, president, and CEO of Make-A-Wish America.
According to reports, Jordan, who has built his fortune owing to a lucrative partnership with Nike, has donated millions of dollars to various causes in recent years, committing $50 million in 2020 to organizations dedicated to pursuing racial equality.
The Basketball Hall of Famer was the first-ever billionaire athlete and remains one of only three players to cross the 10-figure threshold, with fellow Nike athletes Lebron James and Tiger Woods following in his footsteps. Make-A-Wish has received about $430 million in private donations over the last five years, according to tax filings, making it one of the largest charities in the world.