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Back in 2006 Dikembe Mutombo opened up the Biamba Maria Mutombo Teaching and Research Center in the Congo, a hospital named after his mother. For the past couple of years he's been tirelessly raising money for it, even using his own income to make sure the equipment is up-to-date, the center is staffed, and that it's helping the people of his home country.
At the Houston Rockets-Minnesota Timberwolves game last week, however, Mutombo got a little more help. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander dropped $500,000 towards Mutombo's hospital. The following night, Alexander dropped an additional $250,000 towards the hospital at the Rockets' Tux & Tennies Charity Gala with hopes of getting other people to contribute as well. The intention worked and by the end of the night, Mutombo raised $800,000 towards the hospital.
"When Dikembe asked me to use this as an event for his cause, he showed me a video of people in Africa going to a hospital," Alexander told the Houston Chronicle. "They bring their own mattress. They walk in. There's nobody there. There's no drugs. There's no medicine. There's no facilities. There's nothing. [My donation] meant a great deal. It meant he could buy many goods and medicines for the people of the Congo. He is part of the Rocket family. To help him was really special."
Comments: (25)
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By: Lisa on 4/04/2008 1:53PM
May God bless Dikembe Mutombo, for all he has done for his people and not forgetting where he come from. To bad there are not more Athlete and Celebrities willing to do the same for there Community. I take my hat off to you Dikembe Mutombo.
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By: Vida on 4/04/2008 7:14PM
Congratulations and God bless this brother for doing something very important for his country. I hope he'll prove to be an example for others from the Continent to contribute and help the less fortunate in their homeland!!! PLEASE
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By: Tresor on 4/05/2008 8:23AM
Congratulations and God bless our brother fo this good action.We can not forget him,we say just thanks a lot!
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By: LORRAINE on 4/05/2008 10:22AM
DIKEMBE MUTOMBO IS A TRUE BLESSING. I PRAY THAT GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS MAN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR HIS COUNTRY.
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By: Lorenzo_Italy on 4/05/2008 1:02PM
Maximum respect for Dikembe...
God bless you
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By: rushonstyle@hotmail.com on 4/05/2008 1:18PM
When i look at what dikembe achieved,it makes me feel proud to be congolese, Dikembe, you are truely a great man.
May God bless you and your family
Hope it will boost other congolese athletes to do the same because dike is really a role model for all of us
Thank bro.
Djama from England
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By: Daniel on 4/05/2008 10:00PM
truely something spectacular.
people like that are very rare to see.
so selfless and caring.
the powers that be totaly blessed this earth by giving us Dikembe.
Only good things for you Dikembe!
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By: mark on 4/05/2008 2:22PM
God Bless Dikembe Mutumbo for all that he is doing for his country.
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By: Victor from Canada on 4/05/2008 3:26PM
Dikembe Mutombo, you are an excellent role model for people. Definitely, take my hat off to you!
God bless you!
Victor from Canada
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By: Jason on 4/05/2008 4:06PM
Dikembe is a classy man. Perhaps one of the classiest in the whole league! God Bless Dikembe and his home country.
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