Michael Jordan Celebrates Opening of New N.C. Health Clinic After $10M Donation — See the Photo (Exclusive)

• Michael Jordan attended the opening of the third Jordan Family Medical Clinic in North Carolina
• The basketball legend said he was “really inspired by the many powerful stories of people who are now thriving” thanks to the clinics
• In an exclusive photo, Jordan can be seen in the lobby of the clinic during the opening

Michael Jordan celebrated the opening of a new health clinic in his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, and PEOPLE has an exclusive photo of the basketball legend from the event.

Jordan, 61, and Novant Health have partnered to open a third clinic, the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic on Greenfield St. in Wilmington, to provide “much-needed comprehensive primary care services,” according to the release.

The clinic will include medical options for “individuals who are uninsured or underinsured,” a cause close to the former NBA star’s heart.

“Everyone deserves access to quality health care, no matter where you live or have insurance,” Jordan said in a statement, adding that he was “truly inspired by the many powerful stories of people who are now thriving thanks to the support of our Charlotte medical clinics.”

Jordan, whose $10 million donation to Novant Health enabled the construction of two additional Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in Wilmington, added, “I am confident that Novant Health’s new clinic will positively impact individuals and families throughout Wilmington,” and said that ” deeply grateful to help make this day happen for my hometown.”

In an exclusive PEOPLE photo, the former NBA star is seen chatting with Dr. Michael Hoben in the lobby of the clinic during the opening.

Michael Jordan is celebrating the opening of a new health clinic in North Carolina.

Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic

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According to the statement, many patients who visit Jordan’s clinics “never had a primary care provider before” and “praised the clinic’s teams for helping restore health and a sense of hope” to families in North Carolina, where Jordan currently lives.

In a statement, Ernie Bovio, president of Novant Health Coastal Region and Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, said, “Each Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medicine Clinic is carefully planned for the best location in the community. Thanks to our care team’s commitment to lifelong health, our third Michael Jordan Clinic is already realizing our vision of closing gaps in health equity by transforming healthcare, one patient at a time.”

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The clinic includes 12 patient rooms and will be supported by a primary care team as well as a community health worker who will assist patients with community resources, according to a Novant Health news release.

In an additional photo from Tuesday’s clinic, Jordan can be seen speaking to attendees during the opening.

Michael Jordan is celebrating the opening of a new health clinic in North Carolina.

Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic

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Novant Health Senior Vice President Ann Caulkins said, “We are extremely grateful to Michael Jordan for his philanthropic support of our efforts to close gaps in health equity. Michael Jordan’s Novant Health Family Medicine Clinics in Charlotte provided more than 9,000 patient visits last year and provide significant community benefits. We are excited to expand this model in Wilmington, where the clinic team will provide life-changing care.”

Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Wilmington when he was a child. Supporting his hometown in North Carolina has always been a priority for the NBA great, who owns a stake in Charlotte’s NBA team, the Hornets.

In August 2023, Jordan moved from his majority equity position to a minor ownership role after selling his stake to an ownership group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin.

Michael Jordan watches during the 2019 game between the Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets.

Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE/Getty

In a heartfelt message to Hornets fans at the time, Jordan described the opportunity to own an NBA franchise in his home state as a “dream come true.”

Jordan said he will “never forget the excitement” in the city when the Hornets name returned to “its rightful home in Charlotte” in 2013 in his open letter to Charlotte. (The Hornets left Charlotte in 2002 and were replaced by the Bobcats. Under Jordan’s leadership, the team reverted to the Hornets name in 2013, SI reported.)

Jordan referred to the Hornets’ return to Charlotte as a “uniting” moment for the city’s Bobcats and Hornets fans. “Our fans have told us how important this is, and the incredible level of support and enthusiasm has proven their point,” he wrote.

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