In 2017, Michael Jordan and his family started an initiative to make healthcare more accessible. The success of the Jordan Clinics encouraged him to grow it. After the success in Charlotte, the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics are opening in Wilmington, the NBA legend’s hometown. The expansion plans are going full steam ahead. Jordan and his mother, Deloris, arrived in Wilmington this week for the grand opening of the newest clinic.

This initiative seems like a passion project for Deloris Jordan, a silent philanthropist who has aided several health and medical programs for the underprivileged. Through the Jordan family’s support, these clinics have changed many lives.

Michael Jordan’s healthcare initiative comes to hometown

In 2017, the Jordan Family contributed $7 million to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation’s, initiative to launch the Michael Jordan clinics. Novant Health, whose 2023 revenue was $8.3 billion, has constantly reiterated the Jordan Family’s commitment to helping the community. The first clinic opened in 2019 in Freedom Drive and the next in 2020 at Charlotte’s North End. These clinics treat patients whether or not they have insurance. After helping over 4,500 patients, they’re opening the third clinic in Wilmington.

Jordan has donated $10 million for the two new clinics. The first clinic opened on May 7 at the corner of 15th and Greenfield streets, near the Houston Moore neighborhood. MJ and Deloris surprised locals by dropping by the clinic’s opening. Other members of the Jordan family were also present.

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MJ cut the ribbons and addressed the crowd. The dominant sentiment was, “good to be home” for His Airness. He further emphasized his family’s desire to keep helping the Wilmington community.

“We did it in Charlotte, and now we’re going to do it in Wilmington, which makes it even more special because this is home; this is where I came from,” he told the locals at the clinic’s opening. “No matter how you see Michael Jordan, this is where I started.”

Like its Charlotte counterparts, the new clinics will have a staff of experts and all the treatment resources possible. The president of Novant Health thanked Mike and Deloris for making healthcare more accessible to those who aren’t insured.

Jordan Clinics built its own community

The newest Jordan Clinic is 7,800 sq. ft. with 12 patient rooms to offer comprehensive primary care services. The local nonprofit, Cape Fear Collective to identify ideal locations with a greater need. The New Hanover County administration permitted Novant Health to set up the new clinic in 2021. Crews broke ground in 2022 with plans to open in Spring 2024, which finally happened.

The Charlotte clinics have already seen unprecedented success. They were opened at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and were handling the surge of medical needs during that time. It has a rotation of cardiology and pediatric specialists visiting it regularly.

As these clinics serve the uninsured or underinsured, the patients are often residents of homeless shelters and have not seen a doctor in decades. Dr. David Baker, who runs the North  End clinic, is akin to Jordan to some of his patients. He saved the lives of people like Daryl Little, a former college basketball player with NBA aspirations.

His plans were derailed due to addiction struggles. At the shelter, he was directed to the Jordan Clinic for his medical issues. Dr. Baker found a clot in his lung on time and put him on medication, thus prolonging his life. If it wasn’t for these clinics, he’d never know he has diabetes too nor receive medication for it. He is one of the Jordan Clinic’s success stories. With his improving health, he was able to get back on the job market and continue his treatment. Over the years, he directed more people to these clinics when they needed it.

Another one of Dr. Baker’s was Gary Warwick. He couldn’t work due to a disability and medical care was otherwise inaccessible to him. But a volunteer at the shelter he was in urged him to go to the Jordan Clinic. There he discovered his host of medical problems were symptoms of COPD> With regular visits and treatment here, Warwick is on the mend.

MJ said at the Wilmington event that helping people who need it the most is the core of these clinics. “When the families are not table to support, we’re there to support. If you don’t have any money, that doesn’t matter. We’re going to do whatever we can to support you because that’s what happened to me, that’s where I got it from.”

Site work is still on for the second clinic. Its estimated opening date is not yet known. But with his longstanding commitment to Wilmington, rest assured Jordan will be there.