Michael Jordan makes a historic $10 million donation to UNC in honor of his mother

Michael Jordan's impact on the University of North Carolina has never been limited to what he accomplished on the basketball court.

More than four decades after first arriving in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heel legend continues to give back to the university he has long called home. This time, Jordan is making an impact beyond the basketball program.

Jordan has made a historic $10 million commitment to the UNC School of Social Work in honor of his mother, Deloris P. Jordan. The donation is the largest single gift in the school's history and will support students, families, and communities in North Carolina and worldwide.

For someone who spent his career breaking records, Jordan has now helped set another one at Carolina, just in a much different way than we're used to.

Michael Jordan's latest gift to UNC is bigger than basketball

The $10 million commitment will expand the reach of UNC's Global Social Development Innovations Center, which will be renamed the Deloris P. Jordan Global Social Development Innovations Center in recognition of her lifelong commitment to helping children and families.

The gift will also support the Jordan Institute for Families, an organization Jordan and his family helped establish in 1996, and provide scholarship opportunities for students pursuing Master of Social Work degrees.

As part of the commitment, UNC has established the Jordan Family Scholars program. UNC selected ten students as the inaugural Jordan Family Scholars, each receiving a $12,500 scholarship.

In a statement released by the university, Jordan emphasized why he made this donation, one that hits close to home for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer:

"My mother has always believed in the power of helping children, families, and communities, and she has spent her life putting that belief into action. Honoring her through this gift to the UNC School of Social Work is truly meaningful to my family and to me."

Jordan also made it clear that, despite everything he's accomplished and all the places his legendary career has taken him, Chapel Hill will always be home.

While Tar Heel Nation knows him as the guy who revolutionized basketball, Jordan's impact goes far beyond his accomplishments during his illustrious career. Jordan remains a major supporter of the university, and it's fitting that his latest gift honors his mother.

With this gift, Jordan ensured he's not the only member of his family to have an everlasting impact on the University of North Carolina.

Deloris Jordan has dedicated much of her life to helping children and families, including founding the Kenya Women and Children's Wellness Centre in Nairobi. Her work has extended far beyond North Carolina, and the newly renamed center at UNC will ensure her name and mission continue to impact future generations.

With this generous donation, Jordan is helping create opportunities for future social workers, strengthen programs that serve families and communities, and honor the woman who helped shape him into the person he is today.

Dean Smith is known for encouraging his former players to be there for the university when needed. While Smith never pushed for monetary donations from his guys, he always aspired for them to remain a part of the community long last their playing days.

The donation number is eye-popping, but that shouldn't be the main focus here. The focus should be on how Jordan identified a cause close to his heart and found a way to make a positive impact that will touch many lives moving forward.

This right here is much bigger than basketball.

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