Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley along with his family announced a half
million-dollar donation to support the Methodist Healthcare Comprehensive Sickle
Cell Center yesterday at Methodist University Hospital.
“It is an honor and privilege to be able to be in a position to utilize my
platform as a professional athlete to support the lives of others,” said Conley.
“Sickle cell disease has personally affected my family. I felt it was only right
for me to get involved with Methodist Healthcare to see how I could create more
awareness and make a positive impact on people suffering with this disease.”
Inspired by the health challenges of his two cousins living with sickle cell
disease, Conley partnered with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in 2011 to create
a dedicated medical environment to meet the needs of these patients. Conley has
been a supporter of the Center for nearly 10 years, hosting multiple events
including the annual Mike Conley Bowl ‘N Bash where he gathers the Memphis
community for a fun afternoon of bowling while raising money and awareness for
sickle cell research.
With yesterday’s gift, Conley and his wife Mary have now contributed and helped
to raise over $1 million to support Methodist in delivering innovative,
comprehensive care and developing new treatments for patients with sickle cell
in the Mid-South.
“It’s our hope that this donation will allow Methodist the ability to continue
to provide the best medical care available for patients living with sickle cell
disease in the Mid-South for years to come,” added Conley.
In recognition of this commitment and generosity, the Center’s clinic space will
now be named The Mike and Mary Conley Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic.
“We appreciate Mike’s continued passion for the Center and his willingness to
increase awareness of sickle cell disease,” said Paula Jacobson, president of
the Methodist Healthcare Foundation. “With his most thoughtful and generous
gift, we will be able to expand clinical and social care resources for our
patients and their families while pursing advances in care and curative
treatments through research.”
UNINTERRUPTED, the athlete empowerment brand founded by LeBron James and
Maverick Carter, produced a video to document Mike Conley’s involvement with and
dedication to sickle cell care. The video, available below, shows his personal
connection to the disease and documents the moment where he announces his
donation to patients at Methodist Healthcare.
For more information on the Center and to make a donation, please visit
http://www.methodisthealth.org/sicklecell.
ABOUT METHODIST LE BONHEUR HEALTHCARE:
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) has been
caring for patients and families regardless of ability to pay for more than 100
years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to
help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area,
MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with
13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers,
outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician practices serving
communities across the Mid-South. MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on
improving every life touched. For eight consecutive years, Methodist Memphis
Hospitals has been named a Best Regional Hospital in Memphis by U.S. News and
World Report. For three consecutive years, MLH has earned a spot on the Great
Place to Work(r) and FORTUNE magazine list of “100 Best Companies to Work For”.
MLH has also been recognized by Great Place to Work(r) and FORTUNE as a Best
Workplace in Healthcare and Biopharma and a Best Workplace for Women. MLH is
also on the Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity and is recognized by
Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare.
Player: Mike Conley
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