The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) chairman, Gregg Gonsalves, and president and CEO, Della Britton Baeza, announced today that Earvin "Magic" Johnson has been elected to the Foundation's board of directors. Mr. Johnson joins a 33-member board overseeing the Foundation that perpetuates the legacy of Jackie Robinson through administering one of the nation's premier college scholarship programs for minority students and, more recently, with the creation of the Jackie Robinson Museum.
"Even bigger than the barriers that Jackie Robinson broke on the field of play is his legacy of working for equal opportunity for all people," said Mr. Johnson. "I am proud to pay homage to Jackie Robinson by being part of JRF's important mission of educating and inspiring young people."
In addition to his role as Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, Mr. Johnson's co-ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of Major League Baseball's most renowned franchises, speaks to Jackie Robinson's wish, verbalized in his last public appearance in 1972, that there would be diversity not only on the field but throughout the ranks of professional baseball organizations. Mr. Johnson was honored by the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 2002, receiving its prestigious "ROBIE Humanitarian Award."
"Magic, himself, broke barriers and stereotypes within professional sports," Ms. Britton added. "And he and Cookie Johnson have supported the Foundation for years as part of our extended family. We are thrilled that he has joined us in a more formal capacity."
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