Michael Jordan shed a few tears while giving an emotional speech during the grand opening of his family’s third medical clinic with his mother Deloris in North Carolina, last week.
The 61-year-old, six-time NBA champion partnered with healthcare company Novant Health to establish his latest Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington, which provides medical services to local inhabitants who are either uninsured or underinsured, last Tuesday.
Moved by the impact his clinic will have on the city where he grew up, Jordan said: ‘It’s good to be home first and foremost. That’s what this clinic is about, when the families aren’t able to support, we’re there to support.
‘Don’t have any money? Doesn’t matter. We’re going to do everything we can to support you, because that’s what happened to me. That’s where I got it from.
‘… We did it in Charlotte, now we’re going to do it here in Wilmington, which makes it even more special because this is home. This is where I came from and no matter how you see Michael Jordan, this is where I started, this is where I’m always going to be a part of.’
Michael Jordan was emotional upon his return to North Carolina for the grand opening of his third clinic in his home state. Pictured with his mother, Deloris
The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington operates for those who are uninsured
Jordan, whose net worth is an estimated $3.2billion, cut the ribbon with his mother Deloris
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Michael Jordan opens his family's third medical clinic with his mom Deloris in North Carolina hometown after making a stunning $10million donation
Jordan, who already owns two other clinics in Charlotte, donated $10million to get all three medical centers up and running in his childhood town.
‘Everyone is worthy of access to quality health care, no matter where you live or if you have insurance,’ he said in a press release, via People, adding that he is ‘truly inspired by the many powerful stories of people who are now thriving thanks to the support of our Charlotte medical clinics.’
Jordan, whose estimated net worth is around $3.2billion, was born at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, moved to Wilmington with his family at the age of 5.
Perhaps Jordan was emotional because his childhood city reminds him of his father, James R. Jordan Sr., who was murdered in 1993. Pictured together after Jordan’s first NBA title in 1991
Jordan has a history of impacting local business in North Carolina, as he owned the Charlotte Hornets, of the NBA, until 2023
It was at the University of North Carolina where the future basketball legend would showcase his potential, winning an NCAA Championship in 1982 before the Chicago Bulls selected him as the overall pick at the 1984 NBA Draft.
Nine years later, however, Jordan lost his father, James R. Jordan Sr., who was shot and killed in Lumberton after pulling over in a parking lot to sleep in his car.
Perhaps his emotional state at his third clinic’s opening reminded him of their bond. Jordan’s father was famously pictured by his son’s side when the Bulls’ No. 23 won his first NBA title in 1991.
Jordan has a history of impacting his home state’s local economy, as he used to be a majority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. He sold his majority stake in the team for $3billion last year but remains a minority shareholder.