WILMINGTON — Basketball legend and Wilmington native Michael Jordan has announced a $10-million gift to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The donation honors his mother, Deloris Jordan, and will fund the newly named Novant Health Deloris Jordan Neuroscience Institute.
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Jordan’s gift aims to expand access to state-of-the-art neurological care across southeastern North Carolina, supporting research and treatment for complex conditions like stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and spine ailments.
“My mother taught me the importance of compassion and community, and I can’t think of a better way to honor her than by helping to ensure those in need can obtain the most advanced neurological care available,” Jordan said in a press release.
This $10 million gift brings Jordan’s total contribution to the Novant Health Foundation to $27 million. The partnership builds on the creation of four Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics, which opened between 2019 and 2025 — two in Charlotte and two in Wilmington — to provide primary care in underserved communities.
Deloris Jordan is the founder and president of the James R. Jordan Foundation and has dedicated her life to global health, including establishing the Kenya Women and Children’s Wellness Centre in Nairobi.
“I’ve always believed caring for others is one of life’s greatest callings,” Deloris Jordan said. “As a mother who raised my family in Wilmington, I know how access to quality care shapes a community. I am fascinated by the link between neuroscience and well-being, and how understanding the brain helps us care for the whole person. It is humbling and deeply meaningful to be a part of bringing high-quality care to more people in North Carolina and to improve healthcare across the world.”
A formal dedication ceremony for the institute will be held in early 2026 at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
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