DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

Coming to the USA from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1987 to study medicine at Georgetown University, Dikembe Mutombo immediately excelled not only in his academics but also in basketball. He was an NBA superstar for 18 seasons, which culminated in his induction into the league’s coveted Hall of Fame and his appointment as the first NBA Global Ambassador. Committed to making a positive difference in the world, Dikembe leveraged his celebrity status to become a spokesman for the underserved, especially those living in the Congo and throughout Africa. In his post-NBA career, Dikembe has served as a full-time advocate and ambassador for making sure those in need have access to health care and economic opportunities. As part of that mission, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997 and opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, DR Congo in 2007, serving 300,000 people in the area to date. Dikembe also serves on the board of the National Constitution Center, Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation, Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council and the National Board for the US Fund for UNICEF.