Michael Jordan donation for his 60th birthday latest philanthropic endeavor

Michael Jordan’s birthday is February 17th. It’s a major one, his 60th trip around the sun. Jordan has already started off the birthday festivities. He recently donated $10 million to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The donation set a record for the amount donated by an individual. It was also an invitation for others to join in on his record-breaking donation. Jordan hopes to inspire others to give with his generous gift.

Arguably the best basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan was drafted in the 1984 NBA draft with the 3rd overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. The North Carolina native became an instant star, winning Rookie-of-the-Year honors as well as an All-Star selection. His first wish he granted for the foundation came in 1989 and has since granted hundreds more, according to CBS news.

While the gift comes on the eve of his 60th birthday, Jordan’s giving isn’t rare. Jordan gave millions to open medical clinics in his hometown of Wilmington, NC. His Airness also donated $1 million to the NAACP legal defense fund, another million for a community program designed to facilitate felons getting back into the workforce, and $500,000 to Black Votes Matter. Those donations were in connection with a $100 million pledge to help ensure racial equality and social justice.

Michael Jordan continues to evolve

Despite taking some criticism for not being more active socially during his career, the billionaire has been extremely active in giving to the causes in which he believes. Even his investments, like the one he made into a NASCAR car and team, have promoted diversity. Bubba Wallace is the driver for his 23XI racing organization. Wallace has been very outspoken about the need for the sport to embrace diversity.

It’s time to do away with the tired narrative that Jordan is an uncaring jock, only interested in what happens on the court. Despite his renowned competitive streak, he has maintained an eye on helping others in need. It seems obvious that 60-year-old Jordan has expanded his focus, and become more willing to express himself away from the court. Simply getting older doesn’t ensure maturity, he’s allowed himself to change.

Jordan purchased majority ownership from Robert Johnson, the first Black majority owner in the league’s history. Jordan’s rise from generational talent to the owner of a franchise has been an inspiring one. So inspiring, in fact, that the league’s most recognizable player, LeBron James, has repeatedly said that whenever his playing days are done, he wants to follow suit.

There is perhaps no one more synonymous with the game of basketball than Jordan. His 60th birthday is not only a reminder to him about his life and career but to everyone who has watched him play. There is a certain realization of one’s own mortality when their sports heroes age. Undoubtedly, as James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, it was a recognition of his talents and his duration in the league.

Thankfully Jordan is still around the league he helped build to its current heights. And the fact that he owns a franchise in his home state only makes the story more magical. Jordan has always had a sense for the storybook ending, just ask Utah Jazz fans, New York Knicks fans, or Cleveland Cavalier fans…honestly, just ask anyone.

The ultimate fairytale ending would be if Jordan could bring his home state its first NBA championship. If the UNC alum could do that, it would be the perfect topping to an already impeccable professional basketball career.

It would also put one more ring between him and James, who happened to have his career-high against the Jordan-owned Bobcats. Not that that would matter to either of those two competitors.