Celebrating 20 Years of the Magic Johnson Foundation!

In the early ’90s, Magic Johnson was at the top of his game as point guard for the L.A. Lakers. One of the greatest NBA players of all time, had led his team to five NBA championships and made millions of dollars in endorsements. Then on November 7, 1991, he shocked the world by announcing he was HIV-positive and was abruptly retiring from basketball.

Now, 20 years after that shattering press conference, Magic is living a healthy lifestyle and feeling great. While rumors have spread that he either has been cured of the disease or has access to special medications due to his celebrity, Magic says these rumors are false. His good health is a direct result of his lifestyle, positive attitude and commitment to taking his medication.

Magic says he needs to stay healthy just to keep up with his own life. He works to educate people about HIV and AIDS, oversees an ever-expanding empire of real estate holdings and businesses, and serves as vice president and co-owner of his former team, the L.A. Lakers.

20 years of giving is undoubted a long time and indeed a cause for celebration, a time to reflect on 20 years of changing lives in urban communities across the country. In November of 1991 Magic Johnson founded his Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) and today countless lives have been changed through this phenomenal organization.

During the past 20 years the Foundation has evolved from an HIV/AIDS grant-making organization to one that has developed and sustained programs focused on HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention, education though the Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program, and community empowerment through the Magic Johnson Community Centers. Moving forward, MJF plans to highlight educational empowerment as the link for all of their programs.

MJF: 20 is not just about celebrating the foundations’ accomplishments; It is about the beginning of a larger mission… empowerment though education.

About The Magic Johnson Foundation
The Magic Johnson Foundation, founded by Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1991, works to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. It is recognized as a nonprofit public charity under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Accomplishments
• The Magic Johnson Foundation has improved its rating on Charity Navigator to Three (four star rating)
• In 2011 the Magic Johnson Foundation will celebrate their 20th anniversary
• To date the Taylor Michaels Scholarship program has provided over 300 youth with resources and support
• By year’s end 2010 our Community Empowerment Centers will have impacted over 245,000 disadvantaged youth
• CECs have provided programs and transitioned over 450 families from subsidized housing to home ownership
• CECs have provided over 1,500 youth and young adults with GEDs
• CECs have improved the academic performance of over 6,000 youth
• Through the “I Stand with Magic” campaign over 89,000 people have signed up in the online campaign fight against HIV/AIDS
• Through the “I Stand with Magic” campaign, the Magic Johnson Foundation has provided free HIV/AIDS testing to more than 38,000 Americans in 16 major cities. Additionally, the program has educated nearly 280,000 people about HIV, risk factors associated with the disease and the importance of HIV testing
• Since 2003 our partnership with AIDs Healthcare Clinics has tested over, 3,750 adults and identified positive results for over 1000 testers
• The Magic Johnson Foundation Annual Kid’s Mardi Gras started in 1997 has hosted over 16,500 disadvantaged urban youth
• The Magic Johnson Foundation Annual Holiday Party has hosted over 45,000 youth and distributed over 300,000 toys since 1994

Click Here to View and Experience 20 Magical Moments from the past 20 Years of the Magic Johnson Foundation!

Source: Magic Johnson Foundation