Bismack Biyombo’s $1.3M donation: How did his father inspire his Congo hospital project?
NBA player Bismack Biyombo donated his entire 2021-22 salary of $1.3 million to fund the construction of a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project serves as a tribute to his late father, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2021.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of professional sports, personal philanthropy, and global health infrastructure development.
The loss of a parent can change how a person sees life. For Bismack Biyombo, it also changed how he wanted to use his NBA career. The Congolese basketball player lost his father, François, in Aug. 2021 after he contracted COVID-19. Months later, Biyombo made a major decision. He pledged his entire salary for the 2021-22 NBA season, worth around $1.3 million, to help build a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project would honour his father and support families who struggle to access medical care. Bismack Biyombo dedicated his NBA salary to honour his late fatherBismack Biyombo announced the salary donation in March 2022, while playing for the Phoenix Suns. His father’s death had led him to think about his career and the opportunities it had given him.
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