Earvin Johnson, Jr. is Founder and Chairman of the Magic Johnson Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to developing programs and supporting services that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities.
Founded in 1991, the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) has become one of the most recognizable charitable organizations around the world. Over the past few years, the MJF has awarded more than $1.1 million to community-based organizations that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, established four HIV/AIDS clinics and has co-created the award-winning “I Stand With Magic” campaign to end HIV/AIDS in the black community. Additionally, the MJF has supported more than 800 minority high school students with college scholarships (many through the organization’s Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program), opened 18 Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Centers located in underserved communities across the country, and provides a range of community-based initiatives including annual children’s Mardi Gras, holiday toy drive and semi-annual job fair.
Mr. Johnson is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises. Through strategic investments, partnerships and endorsements, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) has bolstered the economy by establishing brand name businesses in underserved communities, training and hiring local residents and employing local contractors.
MJE is comprised of a portfolio of companies that include Urban Coffee Opportunities (making MJE the only joint venture partner of Starbucks with hundreds of stores located across the country), Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund which is the country’s largest private real estate fund focused on the revitalization of underserved communities, Yucaipa Johnson Corporate Growth Fund which is the country’s premiere private equity fund focused on strategic investments in companies located in and/or serving America’s underserved markets, thirteen 24 Hour Fitness Magic Sport centers, a T.G.I. Fridays restaurant, and a long-standing partnership with AMC Magic Johnson Theatres.
MJE recently launched several additional initiatives: SodexoMagic, LLC and respective partnerships with Aetna and Best Buy. SodexoMagic, LLC provides an extensive portfolio of food and facilities management services as well as offers signature dining facilities. MJE’s alliance with Aetna will empower businesses and ethnically diverse communities to make informed choices about health care options by improving health care literacy and demonstrating the benefits of wellness. Similarly, MJE has entered into a multi-year relationship with retail giant Best Buy to enhance urban retail growth strategies and implement diversity outreach with multicultural consumers. Mr. Johnson’s newest venture MAGIC Workforce Solutions (MWS) will provide “best in class” staffing services and connect employers of today with the workforce of tomorrow.
Mr. Johnson is universally known for his 13 year career in the NBA. His honors include: five national championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, 3 MVP awards, 12 NBA All-Star games, a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
