When I think of celebrities who dedicate their lives to bringing awareness to HIV/AIDS, Magic Johnson comes to mind. Earvin “Magic” Johnson is best known as being a professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Some of Johnson’s career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and being enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. But there is one last thing that Johnson is also known for. In 1991, Johnson retired abruptly after announcing he was HIV positive.
Since coming out as HIV positive, Johnson has been an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention as well as a motivational speaker. I remember years ago that Magic Johnson came to Atlanta in order to give a speech about how his life was impacted by the test results. Back in the old days, only a small percentage of heterosexual men were known to be HIV positive. Johnson’s life became a major news story after his announcement. His courage to speak out made others more likely to get tested.
In November 1991, Johnson created the Magic Johnson Foundation to help fight HIV. What I love the most about this organization is that the members help bring attention to the educational, health and social needs of those in urban communities. A lot of people in metro Atlanta can’t afford the medication they need in order to prevent the HIV virus from transforming to AIDS. The Magic Johnson Foundation helps individuals, from all around the country, on a daily basis. According to the overview on the official website’s about page, the three core programs of the organization are:
• HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention – Since its founding in 1991, the Magic Johnson Foundation has developed and funded programs addressing HIV/AIDS prevention, HIV testing, and effective treatment for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
• Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program (TMSP) – Named after Magic Johnson Enterprises’ COO who passed away in 1998, TMSP recognizes students with outstanding academic achievement, leadership and commitment to serve their community. The program empowers minority students through financial support, mentorship, and internship opportunities.
• Community Empowerment Centers (CEC) – CECs help bridge the education gap by providing ethnically diverse urban communities access to resources and programming that educate, empower and strengthen individuals through the innovative use of technology.
If you want to know more about the Magic Johnson Foundation, click on this link: http://magicjohnson.org/
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