Michael Jordan marks 60th birthday with $10-M gift to Make-A-Wish

NBA icon Michael Jordan turns 60 on Friday, and his birthday wish is to make wishes come true for a whole lot of children.

Make-A-Wish America announced Wednesday that Jordan donated $10 million to the organization, making it the largest individual donation in the foundation's 43-year history.

Jordan has been a supporter of Make-A-Wish since 1989 and has the title of Chief Wish Ambassador. Make-A-Wish America makes the dreams of ill children come true and says on its website that donors are "giving children renewed strength to fight their illnesses, bringing families closer together and uniting entire communities."

Make-A-Wish said in a news release that Jordan has "granted hundreds of wishes to children all over the world, becoming one of the all-time most requested celebrity wish granters."

The cause clearly is close to the heart of Jordan, who has five children.

"For the past 34 years, it's been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids," Jordan said. "Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration. I can't think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true."

Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, agreed.

"Michael using his birthday as a chance to make history for Make-A-Wish speaks to the quality of his character and his loyal dedication to making life better for children with critical illnesses," Motter said. "We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true."

Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and now is the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets. He also co-owns the NASCAR team 23XI Racing,

He scored 32,292 points and ranks fifth on the NBA all-time scoring list. — Field Level Media/Reuters