Michael Jordan is celebrating his 60th birthday on Feb. 17 in a fantastical way. The NBA Hall of Famer has pledged a donation of $10 million to one of his favorite non-profit organizations, the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Jordan’s donation is the largest that Make-A-Wish has ever received. Make-A-Wish made the announcement via Twitter:
“In honor of his 60th birthday, our Chief Wish Ambassador Michael Jordan makes the largest individual donation in Make-A-Wish history – 10M! A supporter since ‘89, his bday wish is to inspire others to help grant more wishes.”
Jordan, who is the most requested celebrity wish, was named Chief Wish Ambassador in 2008 after serving the organization as a celebrity wish grantor since 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,” Jordan said in a statement. “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.”
Leslie Motter, Make-A-Wish Foundation President and CEO, has been witness to Jordan’s many philanthropic endeavors that, at times, go unnoticed.
“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 for wish families and the wider Make-A-Wish community,” Motter said.
Make-A-Wish Foundation was established 1980 in Phoenix and has branched out into a number of independently chartered nonprofit organizations located in every U.S. state and territory and nearly 50 countries internationally. For the last 40 years, the nonprofit has granted more than 340,000 wishes of children dealing with critical illnesses.
For more information, visit Wish.org.
