Magic Helps Saginaw School District Students Go To College

The NBA Hall of Famer appeared Tuesday evening at the "Magic of a Promise" fundraiser for the scholarship fund and held an impromptu auction, offering Los Angeles Lakers seats and memorabilia to those who donated. Four audience members gave $10,000 and Johnson, a Lansing native and  former Michigan State University star, gave $20,000 of his own.
Johnson spoke to a crowd of about 1,200, students, educators and community members, at the Temple Theatre in Saginaw.
After the event, another donor gave $10,000, said Saginaw School District Superintendent Carlton Jenkins.
The Saginaw Promise, he said, has the possibility to change Saginaw by bringing educated people back to the area.

"When we see three murders in less than 24 hours, you change that through giving hope through education," Jenkins said after Johnson left the stage. "It's all of our responsibility. Saginaw Public Schools, we're back. And we're moving fast."

In 2010, the state selected Saginaw as one of 10 school districts in Michigan to become a Promise Zone district. It requires communities to raise their own money to provide qualifying students with up to $2,500 per year for students attending two-year  institutions and $8,000 per year for those attending a four-year  institution.

At the event, Johnson talked about the importance of education and how it helped him achieve his childhood dream of becoming a businessman.

"It is cool to be smart," Johnson told students to applause. "Make sure that you follow your goals and dreams."

A lot of students want to be like former Saginaw High School basketball star Draymond Green, he said, but it won't be on the basketball court, but in the classroom.

Johnson said support network of his close family and coaches were part of his success. He reminded students if their friends didn't support them, then perhaps they aren't a friend.

Two other keys to success, he said, are believing in oneself and finding a mentor.

"You have to love you before somebody else can love you," Johnson said.

When people asked Johnson why he chose to support Saginaw, he said it was easy to stand behind Jenkins' vision and plan for the district.

More than 96 percent of all Saginaw School District seniors have applied for college.

Jenkins said he is excited for the students to have someone who is just like them affiliate with the district. Johnson has a "common touch," he said.

In January, Johnson and the school district announced they entered a partnership with SodexoMagic, a joint venture between Maryland-based Sodexo and Magic  Johnson Enterprises that provides healthy food services and facilities  management to Saginaw schools.

Former Saginaw School District and MSU star Draymond Green also attended the event, and said he was blessed to be a part of it.