Famous Alumni Donates $1 Million to MSU Athletic Department

Photo: LA Times, Magic Johnson seen here talking with President Obama at the Carrier Classic

Earvin Johnson, or more famously known as “Magic,” announced at the Carrier Classic last Friday that he was donating $1 Million to his former college, Michigan State’s, athletic department.  Magic knows a lot about the MSU athletic department from his days of playing basketball on the Spartan team in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and winning the 1979 National Title.  He was on hand on the USS Carl Vinson for the First Annual Carrier Classic where the MSU Spartans played the No. 1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.  Although Magic has always been involved with Spartan athletics, most notedly basketball, and the community of MSU and East Lansing since he attended school here, this marks his first donation to the athletic department and the AD, Mark Hollis.  When he told Hollis about his donation at an early morning breakfast the day of the game he said, “Do with it as you see fit,” trusting that it would be put forth to all MSU sports teams.  This marks the second donation of that size in two months as another $1 Million donation was awarded last month by our current basketball coach Tom Izzo and his wife Lupe Izzo.  Magic will forever be known as a sign of strength, compassion and selflessness and a true Spartan for life here at MSU.