Now that the dust has cleared, the totals are in.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson appeared in Saginaw for the third annual ‘Magic of a Promise’ on April 29, and once again, the event was a huge success. Johnson helped raise $155,000 for the Saginaw Promise Scholarship through the event’s auction, ticket sales, sponsors, and pledges.
“This is always a highlight for me,” said the Lansing native and NBA hall of famer. “We owe it to these young people to encourage them to be better and do better and also to get an education.”
Some of the night’s big contributors included the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation and Dow Chemical Co., each of which donated $20,000. Walmart and Dow Corning Corp. each donated $10,000.
Johnson promised to visit companies in return for their donations or to fly employees to Los Angeles to see a Dodgers baseball game or a Lakers basketball game with him.
He has helped raise about $500,000 in the past two years, including donating $120,000 of his own money last year. “It’s all about the kids,” Johnson said. “Dr. Jenkins and the rest of the community comes out and supports such a worthy cause. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this.”
In 2010, the state selected Saginaw as one of 10 school districts in Michigan to become a Promise Zone district. The designation requires communities to raise money to provide qualifying students with up to $2,500 per year for those attending two-year institutions and $8,000 per year for those attending four-year institutions.
The Promise Zone has provided $312,000 in scholarships for students who live in the city of Saginaw or in the Saginaw School District boundaries.
“Saginaw’s businesses really step up,” said former Saginaw High boys’ basketball coach Marshall Thomas. “It’s all about the kids, and the city really puts an emphasis on that. The kids are our future, and there are so many kids that are deserving of this honor. I am really glad to be a part of this great cause.”
Saginaw School District superintendent Carlton Jenkins said that 78 percent of students who received scholarships last year are returning to college, and 70 percent are attending four-year universities.
Saginaw and Arthur Hill high school graduation rates have improved in the past three years from 55 percent and 70 percent to 80 percent, he said. “We are moving forward.”
Johnson said that he always wants to affect change and to inspire students. Kids can see that he came from a poor household and became a businessman, and they can do the same.
“I grew up just like they did,” Johnson said of young people in Saginaw. “Their path in life is through education.”
Aside from the tremedous response from the area businesses, another sidebar to the the night was Johnson agreeing to mentor Saginaw High senior Keyon Addison.
During the question-and-answer portion of the event, Addison asked Johnson what it took to succeed in business. Johnson told Addison to keep asking questions, to go to class every day, to work hard and, above all else, to get a mentor.
So Addison asked Johnson to become his mentor. Johnson didn’t hesitate. “You have a mentor,” Johnson said. “I’m going to fly you to L.A., walk you around my businesses … Dodger Stadium, Staples Center … all the developments we have. You can see how we do it.”
Addison was left in awe after the experience. “I’m almost speechless,” Addison said. “This is pretty cool.”