Michael Jordan Makes Record-Breaking $10 million Donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation on his 60th Birthday

NBA icon Michael Jordan is a legend in more than just the world of basketball.

In honor of his 60^th birthday, Jordan donated a record-setting gift of $10 million to Make-A-Wish America. The whopping contribution is the largest donation from an individual in the HISTORY of the 43-year-old foundation.

Jordan has been an active supporter of the foundation for the past three decades. The superstar philanthropist is hoping that his generous gift will inspire others to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help even more deserving kids waiting patiently for their wishes to come true.

The Make-A-Wish vision is to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. Exceptionally, in the United States, a wish is granted every 34 minutes.

A wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness and can serve as the inspiration a child needs to believe that anything is possible and give them the willpower to keep fighting against their respective illnesses or disorders.

In 1989, Jordan's history with the Make-A-Wish foundation began when the sports idol granted a young child his first wish. In the decades since, he has helped hundreds of wishes for children around the world. In 2008, he was named Make-A-Wish Chief Wish Ambassador for the transformative impact he has had on countless deserving recipients and their families.

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The Chicago Bulls' all-time point leader is one of the most requested celebrity wish granters with the foundation.

“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,” said Jordan in a press release. “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 their wish come true.”

Michael “His Airness” Jordan was named the 20th century's greatest North American athlete by ESPN and holds six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, ten NBA scoring titles, and the NBA record for the highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game), along with the record career playoff scoring average (33.4 PPG).

In terms of his most recent philanthropic effort, Leslie Motter, the President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, says that "everyone knows about Michael's legacy on the basketball court, but it’s what he has consistently done off the court when no one’s watching that makes him a true legend."

“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," continued Motter. "We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true.” 

Jordan’s generous donation will be used to create an endowment to provide funds for future wishes for kids with critical illnesses. His support follows a recent 2022 Wish Impact Study that revealed that wishes can play a significant role in the healing process. They are shown to serve as a coping mechanism for children and a turning point during treatment.

Jordan’s pledge will not soon be forgotten and his kindness will continue to positively impact hundreds of deserving children for decades to come.

People wishing to make an impact on the lives of young ones can make a donation through Make-A-Wish right here.