NBA rising star Trae Young pays $1m medical debt for poor families

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has cleared more than a million dollars of medical debt for poor families in Atlanta.

In partnership with RIP Medical Debt, the 21-year-old point guard took away the burdens of so many saddled with medical debt because they do not have the means to pay them.

“The city of Atlanta has welcomed me with open arms,” Young told WSB-TV. 

“Giving back to this community is extremely important to me. I hope these families can find a bit of relief knowing that their bills have been taken care of as we enter the New Year,” he added.

Medical debt destroys the financial stability of large segments of America’s most vulnerable communities: the sick, the elderly, the poor, and veterans.

RIP Medical Debt pinpoints the portfolios for those in or near the poverty level, it buys up their debt and forgives it. The organization then sends forgiveness notices to the benefiting families, and subsequently help the recipients repair their credit reports—renewing their access to opportunities and resources that will allow them to rebuild and recover.

According to Fox 5, Young’s partnership with the nonprofit organization erased the debt of 570. Through this charitable act $1,059,186.39 of medical debt will be erased, WSB-TV reported. 

Young in August surprised a fan by giving him a new computer and school supplies, Blavity reported.

He told  The Journal Record last year: “I want people to remember and think of me as someone who is more than just basketball, just someone who likes to shoot threes and pass the ball.

“Someone who is big on community, big on family, big into my faith – just someone who is different. I want to be someone who you don’t see a lot of. And hope I change the community and make more people like me who want to give back and make it about others before themselves.”   

In July Young signed his rookie contract that will earn him more than $15 million over the first three years of the deal. 

He also has several endorsement deals, including a sneaker and apparel deal with Adidas.

Speaking to TMZ, Young’s father Rashford said: “[Trae] understands where he came from. He understands everyone is not in a position he’s in.”