Jordan has significantly ramped up his charitable giving since he became majority owner of the Hornets in '10Melissa Key/Bizjournals
Hornets Owner MICHAEL JORDAN "teared up Thursday in Charlotte" as he spoke about his $7.2M donation for two Novant Health clinics, according to a front-page piece by Joe Marusak of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Both sites are "expected to serve at least 35,000 children and adults over the next five years." The clinic "provides both primary health care services as well as access to social workers, behavioral health experts, oral health practitioners, and physical therapy." Jordan has "significantly ramped up his charitable giving" since he became majority owner of the Hornets in '10. Besides Jordan's name on the building, the clinic on Freedom Drive features 38 aluminum strips that "form an image of Jordan soaring toward a slam dunk" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/18).
DISCUSSING ISSUES: Jordan appeared on NBC's "Today" this morning in a wide-ranging taped interview, and the net's Craig Melvin asked him "what changed" in regard to speaking out on social issues after he developed a reputation for being apolitical during his playing career. Jordan: "I was a professional basketball player and I tried to do that the best I could. Now, I have more time to understand things around me, understand causes, understand issues and problems, and commit my voice, my financial support." Jordan said of today's athletes using their voice on social issues, "It's great. If they understand the causes, obviously if they feel their voice matters, great, and I support that." Jordan also weighed in on the debate over college athletes' NIL rights, saying, "They should be paid some portion of money so that their basic needs are taken care of. There's some complexity there that I think the NCAA is going to have to figure out" ("Today," NBC, 10/18).
