Conley's commitment culminates with transformational gift

When NBA star and former Memphis Grizzlies point guard, Mike Conley, arrived in Memphis as a rookie, he was determined to make an impact on and off the court.

To support a cause that is close to his heart and would also impact the Memphis community, Mike created the Mike Conley Bowl ‘n Bash fundraiser. And in 2011, after hearing about Methodist’s plans to create a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Mike committed himself to making that a reality.

Since then, Mike and his wife, Mary, have served as tireless advocates and supporters of the Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and the patients it serves, hosting 11 Mike Conley Bowl ‘n Bash fundraisers, giving personally, and leveraging their platform to increase awareness about the disease.

Mike shared, “Sickle Cell is a disease that has impacted my family directly. Working with Methodist over the years, I witnessed first-hand how they worked with patients to try to improve their quality of life and, often at times, with limited resources available to them.”

With the Conleys’ support, the Center has grown to include a highly specialized and skilled multidisciplinary team that provides quality, comprehensive care to over 350 adult patients with sickle cell disease annually.

Dr. Kenneth Ataga, the Plough Foundation Endowed Chair in Sickle Cell Disease and Director of the Center for Sickle Cell Disease at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, said, “With his interest and support, Mike Conley has increased awareness for sickle cell disease in Memphis and the surrounding areas. His gift is an important step to improve the care of patients at our Center. With the Conleys’ support, we are able to expand the Center’s team, launch meaningful collaborative research studies, conduct community education, and offer a robust patient support program—all of which we see as necessary to offering truly comprehensive, quality care.”

In 2019, Mike and Mary announced that they would make a donation of $500,000 to the Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center - a perfect culmination of their many years of support and passion.

Mike explained, “The patients suffer enough with this disease as is. They shouldn’t also have to struggle to find treatment. To ensure a better quality of life for patients being treated with the disease, Mary and I made the pledge of $500,000 to provide upgrades and patient support resources.”

With this gift, Mike and Mary have contributed and helped raise over$1 million to support Methodist in delivering care to patients living with sickle cell disease. In recognition of their generosity and commitment, the Center’s clinic space was named The Mike and Mary Conley Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic.

Mike concluded, “We hope that this donation and the funds raised over the years from the Bowl ‘n Bash will make a positive impact on those who need it most for years to come.”