Michael Jordan celebrates his 60th birthday with a generous donation

The NBA legend gave the 'Make-A-Wish' Foundation $10 million to help children with serious illnesses.

Michael Jordan will be 60 years old tomorrow, February 17. He decided to celebrate a little early by making a generous gift. The NBA legend donated a total of $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants children and teenagers who are suffering from serious illnesses with one wish.

The organization announced on social media that the athlete had made this generous donation. The Arizona-based NGO explained in its post that $10 million was the largest donation it had received in its 43 years of existence.

In addition, Make-A-Wish said in a press release that they hope Jordan's gesture will inspire more people to also donate what they can to help the little ones:

The hope is that Jordan’s decision to celebrate his birthday by donating to 'Make-A-Wish' will inspire others to help 'Make-A-Wish' close the gap in the number of wish kids who are waiting for their wishes to come true.

Michael Jordan has been a supporter of the foundation since 1989

This is not the only time Jordan has helped the non-profit foundation. The organization said that the NBA athlete has been actively involved with them since 1989. Make-A-Wish America President and CEO Leslie Motter is especially grateful for all that Jordan has done:

Everyone knows about Michael’s legacy on the basketball court, but it’s what he has consistently done off the court when no one’s watching that makes him a true legend for wish families and the wider 'Make-A-Wish' community. 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. We hope that the public will be inspired to follow in his footsteps by helping make wishes come true.

The basketball legend also explained what it means to him to collaborate with Make-A-Wish since their mission means a lot to him. He said that's why he loves working with them:

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. 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.