“Because of FreeRent, I can breathe. And if you can breathe, you can move forward,” said Derrick, a 2024 Free Rent ATL recipient. That’s the kind of impact Dominique Wilkins is making long after his playing days. Known as “The Human Highlight Film” for his gravity-defying dunks, Wilkins not only led the Hawks to four straight 50-win seasons in the 1980s but also cemented his standing among the NBA’s all‑time scoring leaders. Today, the two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion is still making waves—this time for his city, Atlanta.

This fall, FreeRent expands to Los Angeles, offering one year of free rent plus support services to help renters regain stability. Roots REIC lets anyone invest in real estate with as little as $100—aligning tenants’ interests with homeownership through its ‘Live in It Like You Own It’ model. Dominique Wilkins has joined the effort as a partner, investor, and spokesperson, lending his voice to a mission grounded in opportunity and shared success.

Wilkins and his wife Jedidia, took to Instagram to express heartfelt gratitude after FreeRent.org received a $30,000 grant, thanks to public votes. In a warm video message, the couple said, “Hey everyone. We just wanted to say thank you. Because of your votes, FreeRent.org won a $30,000 grant from The Same House. That means 10 families will stay housed and get the support they need. This kind of impact is only possible because of you.” The Wilkins family basically helped 10 families get a new lease at life! They also invite supporters to Friday, August 22’s annual FreeRent fundraiser. Mark your calendars and grab your tickets—because every bit of support helps keep families housed and hopeful.

The Wilkins know the numbers: the average renting family in Atlanta has less than $650 in savings and is spending over 42% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. That’s way past the 30% “affordable” benchmark set by HUD, as reported by EIN Press Wire. And when families are living that close to the edge, one emergency—just one—is enough to send everything crashing down. “Unexpected situations can put a renting family in a real financial hole,” Dominique said. That’s why FreeRent ATL focuses on building long‑term stability.

This work hits home for the Wilkins in more ways than one. “I love Atlanta, and as long as the wealth gap keeps widening, generations of people are getting left behind,” Dominique said. “We can change that at Roots, and I feel like this might be the best team I’ve ever played on.” And that says a lot coming from a man who’s had his jersey retired in the rafters.

But what makes the Wilkins’ advocacy even more moving is how deeply personal their mission becomes when the focus shifts from housing to health. Because when it comes to their other foundation, one that centers on disabilities, it’s not just charity. It’s family.

Dominique Wilkins finds a new arena for his daughters

When Dominique talks about inclusion, it’s not a trending cause or a feel-good headline—it’s family. His daughter Danielle is on the autism spectrum, and his youngest, JoJo, was born with spina bifida. Both girls have sensory needs that made the NBA arena experience overwhelming. The crowds. The lights. The noise. The stares. “It got to the point where I had to stop taking them to games,” Dominique said. “I could see their disappointment and their fear—and the way people judged them and misunderstood them—time and time again.” Imagine being a Hall of Famer and not being able to share your world with your own kids. That broke him.

Then came KultureCity, the nation’s leading sensory‑inclusion nonprofit. A chance meeting turned into a mission, and soon, Dominique was on the board of the nation’s leading nonprofit for sensory inclusion. He worked closely with them to make State Farm Arena a safe space, not just for his daughters, but for every family whose kids experience the world differently. Sensory bags, quiet rooms, trained staff—things most of us would overlook, but for families like the Wilkinses, they meant the world. “This was a game-changer for my family,” he said. “All of my children could finally be accepted, accommodated and included.”

That mission only deepened during the COVID shutdown. “I realized that the social isolation we are all feeling now… is something that my two children live through all the time,” Wilkins wrote in a powerful essay. For Danielle and JoJo, missing out on everyday experiences isn’t a temporary inconvenience—it’s a daily reality. Utah Jazz star Joe Ingles, whose son also has autism, echoed Dominique’s message on Twitter: “Basketball is irrelevant when it comes to real life.”

And that’s what this is—real life. A life where Dominique cheers on JoJo as she sinks basket after basket from her wheelchair. A life where he fights for understanding, acceptance, and love, not just for his kids, but for the millions like them, waiting to feel seen.

Dominique Wilkins has always known how to rise above the rim, above expectations, and now, above the barriers that keep families like his from living fully and freely. Whether he’s helping renters breathe a little easier through FreeRent or transforming NBA arenas into safe havens with KultureCity, Wilkins isn’t just lending his name—he’s lending his heart.