Kobe Bryant won his fourth NBA title this year and silenced those who questioned his status of being the best player in the league. But a fourth championship doesn’t seem to be enough for this man as he sets his sights on something new – global education.

He recently established the Kobe Bryant China Fund, which partners with the Soong Ching Ling Foundation to support education and health programs in China. The Soong Ching Ling Foundation is a government-backed charity and is evidence of the Chinese government’s growing interest in developing the nonprofit sector in China.

Kobe Bryant is immensely popular in China; his jersey sells more than even Yao Ming’s. His popularity abroad has given him great cultural influence and he was even called a “one-man State Department” by Donald Tang, founder and CEO of financial advisory firm, CITIC. He was also given an award yesterday as a “cultural ambassador” by the Asia Society with two high profile Chinese politicians in attendance.

Kobe Bryant’s great popularity amongst China’s youth has enabled him to be an influential force in China’s nonprofit sector. I’m sure many will dismiss this story and think that Kobe Bryant’s venture into China is ultimately to his benefit, as well as his sponsors and basketball. However, that doesn’t change the potential impact it can have on China’s nonprofit landscape. The ultimate goal is not that Kobe Bryant’s one foundation will produce a drastic change in education, but that his high-profile involvement will cause others to do the same.