Michael Jordan is making a historic contribution to his alma mater while paying tribute to one of the most influential people in his life.
The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball legend has made a $10 million donation to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work in honor of his mother, Deloris Jordan. The extraordinary gift represents the largest donation ever made by a former UNC basketball player to an entity in Chapel Hill and marks another significant chapter in Jordan’s long relationship with the university.
According to The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, Jordan’s contribution is also the largest single donation in the history of the UNC School of Social Work. The gift will have a lasting impact on the school, with UNC planning to add Deloris Jordan’s name to its Global Social Development Innovations Center.
The university will also establish the Jordan Family Scholars program, creating a new opportunity for graduate students pursuing careers in social work.
Jordan said the decision to honor his mother through the donation was deeply meaningful to him and his family. Deloris Jordan’s lifelong commitment to helping children, families and communities has played a major role in shaping the values that her son has carried throughout his life.
“My mother has always believed in the power of helping children, families and communities,” Jordan said in a statement. “Honoring her through this gift to the UNC School of Social Work is truly meaningful to my family and to me.”
The Jordan Family Scholars program will provide $12,500 scholarships to 10 Master of Social Work students in its inaugural class. The initiative is designed to help talented students pursue advanced education while preparing them for careers dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families and communities.
For Jordan, the initiative is about more than simply providing financial assistance. It is an opportunity to continue his family’s commitment to social work and create a lasting legacy at a university that played a major role in his own development.
Jordan’s connection to this mission dates back decades. In 1996, he and his family established the Jordan Institute for Families at UNC. The institute has supported work in several important areas, including maternal health, caregiving, home visiting, mental health, economic support and social work leadership.
That history makes Jordan’s latest contribution particularly significant.
Deloris Jordan, a longtime social worker, has devoted much of her life to helping children and families. Her influence on her son’s life has also been well documented, particularly during his rise from a talented young basketball player to one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
Now, Jordan is using his success to support the same values his mother has championed for decades.
UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts praised the contribution and highlighted the importance of Deloris Jordan’s work. The university believes the donation will strengthen the School of Social Work’s ability to prepare professionals who can make a difference across North Carolina and beyond.
The timing of the gift also provides another reminder of the close relationship Jordan has maintained with UNC long after his playing career ended.
Jordan arrived in Chapel Hill as a highly regarded prospect and went on to become one of the most influential players in college basketball history. His success at UNC helped launch a legendary professional career, but his connection to the university has remained strong.
For Jordan, however, this latest moment is less about basketball and more about family.
Anyone familiar with Jordan’s story, including the 2023 film “Air,” understands the important role Deloris played in her son’s journey. Her guidance, determination and belief in her son helped shape the person who would eventually become a global sports icon.
This $10 million gift provides Jordan with another opportunity to pay that influence forward.
Rather than simply honoring his mother with a name attached to a building, Jordan is creating opportunities for students who want to dedicate their careers to helping others. The Jordan Family Scholars program could give future social workers the financial support they need to complete their education and begin serving communities in need.
It is a fitting tribute to Deloris Jordan and the values she has spent her life promoting.
For UNC, the historic donation will strengthen an important academic program. For Jordan and his family, it represents something even more personal: a lasting celebration of his mother’s life, work and commitment to helping others.
And while Michael Jordan’s name will forever be connected to basketball greatness, this latest contribution shows another side of his legacy — one built around family, education, opportunity and giving back.
