Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson to highlight Florida Memorial University’s Eleventh Annual Appreciation Dinner and Awards Presentation
(PRNewswire) – Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be the guest of honor at Florida Memorial University’s Eleventh Annual Appreciation Dinner taking place on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 7:00 pm. This event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Miami located at 400 SE 2nd Avenue in downtown Miami, Florida.
The retired NBA Hall of Fame icon turned successful businessman will also be on hand during this appropriately coined “Magic Night” to be conferred with an honorary doctoral degree and to discuss the correlation between scholarship availability and students’ pursuance of a college education.
Emmy award-winning CBS 4 Sports Director and Anchor Jim Berry will serve as master of ceremonies while selected vocalists and musicians from the school’s music department will provide live entertainment.
In addition to Magic Johnson’s guest appearance, various university administrators are scheduled to present special appreciation awards to sponsors, supporters and volunteers who have assisted in educational advancement initiatives. This year’s recipients are as follows:
Trustee of the Year Award – Reverend Dr. Henry T. Rhim
Alumni of the Year Award – Mr. Daniel McNeill
Carrie P. Meek Philanthropist Award – North Dade Medical Foundation
Arthur J. Hill Award – Burger King Corporation
Volunteer Award – Mrs. Ozzie Ritchey
Corporate Partner Award – Bank United, Commerce Bank,
Corporate Express, Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust, Ryder System,Inc., The Home Depot
Community Leadership Award – Yolanda Cash-Jackson, Esq.
Dr. Albert E. Smith, President of Florida Memorial University, expressed his gratitude while discussing the numerous supporters who have contributed their time and effort to pending projects this year. “Failing to acknowledge the individuals who propel our university’s mission forward would be committing a huge disservice to the community,” stated Dr. Smith.
“The Appreciation Dinner is hosted every year for this purpose. It serves as the perfect opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our faithful supporters while reiterating our university objectives to promote leadership, academic excellence and economic development.”
When asked about Magic Johnson’s scheduled appearance at the dinner, Dr. Smith displayed his elation. “Having Magic in attendance serves as its own reward. He embodies all of the personal characteristics in which we encourage our students to emulate: ambition, assertiveness, commitment and perseverance. I cannot think of an individual who symbolizes these virtues quite like Magic.”
Though Magic Johnson is one of the most illustrious professional basketball players of all time, he managed to reinvent himself as a prosperous entrepreneur. He prides himself in developing revenue-generating businesses in underserved communities, thus providing desperately needed jobs to urban America.
As Chairman and CEO of Johnson Development Corporation (JDC), he has revitalized inner city communities by providing quality entertainment services, such as the Magic Johnson Theaters, and partnered with Burger King Corporation in a multi-year agreement as a franchise of 30 restaurants. As Founder and Chairman of the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF), he addressed the critical needs of inner-city youth by facilitating the Magic Johnson Foundation Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program that provides college scholarships, mentoring and internships.
He has sent over 225 students to colleges across the country through this program, and many of them have gone on to begin careers with some of the companies that assisted in sponsoring their education. Dr. Smith lends kudos to Magic for his efforts. “Magic is one of the most underrated advocates for higher learning in America. With his endorsement of Florida Memorial University, we will soon be on our way to offering top-quality scholarships in hopes of recruiting the most promising students on the local and national levels.
My administration, faculty, staff and I are all thrilled about this new partnership and look forward to establishing a continued relationship.”
