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For years, Michael Jordan inspired us to “wanna be like Mike”.   Today Michael Jordan, one of sports greatest philanthropists celebrates another year and there is still good reason to want to be like him.

Most basketball fans consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest professional basketball player ever. He ended his 15-year career slightly better than Wilt Chamberlain’s career. He won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, during which time he won all MVP Awards. He won ten scoring titles and was league MVP five times. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, to go along with his being named to the All-NBA First Team ten times.

There are many reasons why Michael Jordan the man lives on in mythological stories. Just  a few of the reason here why the public continues their admiration. Here is an article on just 25 Reasons  We Love Michael Jordan

What many do not know, however, is that Michael Jordan, while he may have been the greatest basketball player ever, is also a great humanitarian. He has donated a lot of his time to helping people through various charities.

Jordan has been involved with numerous charities, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, UNCF/College Fund, Special Olympics, and a variety of charitable organizations that support children and families. This does not included the numerous cash donations he has made over he years to struggling schools and children’s hospitals. Michael Jordan also hosts the yearly Michael Jordan Charity International Golf Tournament. He is a  key supporter and contributor to the Ronald McDonald House. His strong belief that you must always continue to help when you become successful is his mantra to life.

“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate”

In 1994, Michael Jordan founded the James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Life Center, named after his father. The Center, in Chicago, Illinois, opened to the public after receiving a $5 million donation from the Chicago Bulls and a $ 2 million personal donation from Jordan. Every week more than 1,000 people come to the center, from senior citizens to teenagers to toddlers and infants. Some visitors do homework; others play pool, play basketball, or just enjoy relaxing in a safe environment.. Ronald McDonald House and the Jordan Institute for Families in North Carolina

Jordan Cologne for Men has donated a portion of the proceeds from the product to charity. The United States Senate also honored him after his retirement, not only for being a great basketball but also for being a goodwill ambassador throughout the world, and his humanitarian efforts.

He donated via “Hoops Homes $450 million dollars for Katrina reconstruction and assistance. Hoops for Homes, is the vehicle in which Michael Jordan was able to aid Habitat for Humanity’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts

Michael also founded the Jordan Institute in North Carolina. The Jordan Institute is the research, training and technical assistance arm of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Addressing family issues across the lifespan, the Jordan Institute brings together experts—including families themselves—to develop and test policies and practices that strengthen families and engage communities.

For all these reasons and more, we wish Mr. Michael Jordan a Happy Birthday.

We “still wanna be like Mike.”

{For more from Oretha Winston follow her on Twitter}

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