Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and the Magic Johnson Foundation Give Students their 'Blueprint for Success' at Annual Leadership Conference

Via Press Release: Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF) will kickoff the Foundation's annual Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program Life Skills Leadership Conference in Los Angeles this weekend with a keynote address to the 150 deserving scholarship students attending. They come from all around the country anticipating the four-day program that promises to educate, entertain and empower. The Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program (TMSP) was implemented to subsidize education expenses for college bound students who show exemplary scholastic achievement but are stifled by their socio-economic condition.

"We are extremely passionate about our students in the Program and their well being, and we work on a daily basis to provide them with the necessary tools for success," said Towalame Austin, President of the Magic Johnson Foundation. To date, the program has supported 300 students. In addition to providing financial support to scholarship recipients, the TMSP offers a mentoring and internship program that prepares each Scholar for the workplace and post graduation. With this year's theme, "Your Blueprint for Success," the Foundation continues on with their tradition to prepare Scholars for academic success, career paths and life in general.

During the highly-anticipated four days, the Foundation will host a series of seminars. On Friday, July 10th, the Scholars will be a part of a Financial Park simulation to better assist them with budgeting while preparing them to enter into the "real" world. On Saturday, July 11th, they will participate in a Brother 2 Brother/Sister 2 Sister workshop, which will offer an open forum for them to candidly talk about personal life issues and the challenges they face as young men and women. The Foundation will also partner with UCLA's Make Art/Stop AIDS program as an encouragement for students to learn more about the disease through the arts. MJF has tested over 30,000 people through their "I Stand With Magic" Campaign (a partnership with Abbott) to end Black HIV/AIDS.

On Sunday, July 12th, the Magic Johnson Foundation will host the Scholar Recognition Brunch. The brunch will celebrate the Taylor Michaels Scholars 2009 graduating class and recognize their significant achievements, along with welcoming 20 new students to the program. The four days will conclude on Monday, July 13th with a Life Post College seminar for graduating seniors during the day and a Sponsor Reception in the evening to thank all the corporate sponsors who made the Conference possible this year through their commitment to support the mission of the Magic Johnson Foundation. Those sponsors include: FedEx, Dell, Best Buy, American Airlines, Mercedes Benz and Global Consumer Innovation.

About the Magic Johnson Foundation: The Magic Johnson Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, was established in 1991 to raise funds for community-based organizations focused on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The Foundation has since expanded its mission to develop programs and services that address the broader educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities throughout the nation. For more information, log onto http://www.magicjohnson.org.

Source: PRNewswire/The Magic Johnson Foundation

AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour, a six month, 48 state national cross country HIV testing tour, arrives in Salt Lake City today and will offer free HIV testing, along with local partner Utah Pride Center from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM today at the Utah Pride Center, 355 N. 300 W. The testing will take place on AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF’s) new, state-of-the-art ‘Testing America’ mobile HIV testing unit named in honor of and in partnership with basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr.

The team recently achieved a major milestone after reaching the 10,000-mile mark while on the road from Little Rock, Arkansas to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After three months—and halfway through the tour—the mobile unit and its intrepid staff have reached 17 states, operated 23 testing sites and administered 2,500 free HIV tests.

The AHF/Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ tour is part of a collaborative effort to raise local and national awareness about the importance—and ease—of HIV testing and to challenge attitudes about moving toward a streamlined model of HIV testing and counseling nationwide. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to continue its second HIV Testing Tour across the US after the successful completion of its recent and ambitious 14 city AHF Magic Johnson HIV Testing Caravan in mid-2009.

“Working with respected local partners, including Utah Pride Center, we plan on demonstrating just how easy HIV testing can be. At each stop along the way on this nationwide tour—including Salt Lake City—we will host or participate in free mobile HIV testing events and media events to raise awareness about the importance of testing,” said Azul Mares-DelGrasso, Field Services Manager, National HIV Testing Tour, AHF’s Public Health Division. “After six months on the road, our ‘Testing America’ tour culminates with a major testing event in New York City on Sunday, June 27th—National HIV Testing Day.”

During the testing tour, AIDS Healthcare Foundation will also present $1,000 grants to each of the local partners. And throughout the course of the testing tour, HIV testing counselors will supply a steady stream of updates, videos and images via new media: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter postings from along the route, interviews with local partners, government officials and interviews with people who were tested on the mobile unit. To learn how you can sign up to follow the ‘Testing America’ tour, please visit http://www.freehivtest.net.

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