Reflecting on the Legacy of Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Legend and CDC Foundation Board Member
One of my first actions after being selected in 2016 by the CDC Foundation Board of Directors to serve as the president and CEO was to meet individually with each board member.
Dikembe Mutombo had joined the CDC Foundation Board of Directors in the fall of 2014. We agreed to meet for lunch at a restaurant in an Atlanta suburb. It was quite the introduction to my new job by having a private lunch with a world renowned and beloved NBA star.
I recall how the table seemed much too small for him as we sat down, and we were interrupted a few times by people stopping by who recognized him and wanted to say hello. His warmth and laughter were compelling as he told me about his beloved family. He shared that he had dreamed of becoming a doctor until his path led him to professional basketball.
He also told me about the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which he founded in 1997 focused on improving health, education and quality of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and across Africa. I was impressed as he discussed the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, named after his late mother, in Kinshasa. Built in 2007, the hospital has treated hundreds of thousands of patients, providing access to care in a region where healthcare is severely lacking. The hospital has saved so many lives and served as a beacon of hope for many Congolese.
Over the years that followed our lunch, I had the privilege of introducing Dikembe to new CDC directors and enlisting his help during global health emergencies, such as during one of the many Ebola outbreaks. His advocacy for vaccinations and other public health measures was vital in regions facing devastating diseases and where healthcare infrastructure is fragile.
One of my fond memories of Dikembe was the day he came to our office to film a brief video for the CDC Foundation’s new branding launch in 2017, using his famous finger wag. Here’s the link. Even though he was incredibly busy, Dikembe was most generous with his time in helping our team generate awareness and interest in the Foundation’s new branding—we all had a lot of fun in the process.
For his Foundation, Dikembe and his team held an annual gala to raise funds to support their lifesaving work. I joined colleagues from the CDC Foundation at several of these events. It was moving to watch him in action as a philanthropist and humanitarian, putting his heart and soul into raising support to improve the health—and lives—of others.
As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in his announcement about Dikembe’s death, “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”
Through the use of his resources and influence, Dikembe addressed critical social and health issues, and he leaves a blueprint that highlights the enormous potential for celebrities and public figures—and really any of us—to be agents of change. His authenticity and hands-on approach made him a credible voice in the global humanitarian space. He not only had 3,289 career blocks in his NBA career, but he leaves us the building blocks of aligning the power of fame with a purpose beyond self.
As we pause to mourn Dikembe Mutombo’s passing, let’s also celebrate the legacy he left for us all to make a positive and lasting impact on our world.
