NBA legend and Charlotte Hornets' owner, Michael Jordan, is giving back to the community. Recently, he cut the red ribbon at the opening of the Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic which aims to provide care for uninsured patients. Situated in Charlotte, North Carolina, the clinic opened its doors two years after Jordan pledged to donate $7 million to open two medical facilities.
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The location of the clinic was not a mere coincidence. Jordan chose to benefit the hometown he was born in and give back to the place which shaped him as a person and led him to the path of success. During an emotional opening speech, Jordan said: "This is a very emotional thing for me to be able to give back to a community that has supported me over the years."
Located in the lower-income part of the city, the new clinic will benefit underprivileged and uninsured people in need who reside in the area.
In 2014, Harvard University/UC Berkeley conducted an assessment in which Charlotte was ranked 50th out of 50 in economic mobility for children born into poverty. "I believe that your ZIP code or neighborhood should not determine the quality of your health care – or whether or not you can even get care at all,” said Michael Jordan.
The clinic has 12 patient exam rooms, an X-ray room, and space for physical therapy. Apart from taking care of patients' health, the clinic will have a social worker for social support purposes. The clinic will be run by Novant Health.
The company's CEO Carl Armato said in a statement: "At Novant Health, we are deeply committed to caring for patients beyond our walls. This clinic will not only provide access to medical care for those who need it most, but it will connect them to resources to ensure their health extends beyond the doctor's office. We are so grateful for Michael Jordan's continued partnership and generous gift, which will transform thousands of lives in the west Charlotte community."
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