Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. pledges $1M to Morgan State University

Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. has pledged $1 million to Morgan State University to support its Earl G. Graves School of Business & Management.

Johnson’s gift was announced during Morgan State’s 40th Annual Homecoming Gala at Martin’s West earlier this month. According to university president David Wilson, the money will be used to endow a professorship in Entrepreneurship at the business school.

A National Basketball Association Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson is now the CEO of SodexoMagic, a food and facilities management provider that works with major corporations and institutions, including K-12 schools and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs.) The company has provided dining services at Morgan State since 2020 and was also a sponsor of its homecoming gala.

Johnson, 65, was unable to attend the gala in person, but his gift was announced at the event by SodexoMagic Vice President of Business Development and Account Management Donna Ford.

“As a preeminent HBCU, your dedication to addressing equity gaps and your rise in research prominence sets an inspiring example for institutions nationwide,” Ford said. “And like Morgan State University, SodexoMagic is committed to being a driving force for equity and change.”

Johnson was appearing at an event in Michigan with Vice President Kamala Harris at the same time as Morgan State’s gala, but he addressed the gathering in a video.

“Congratulations on 40 years of raising scholarship funds for students to attend the National Treasure,” he said in the video. “Please continue this great work so that the next generation of leaders are equipped to lead worldwide.”