Magic Johnson motivates Springfield students

NBA legend and businessman offers trip to Disneyland.

Springfield Regional Medical Center was abuzz Monday afternoon after dozens of local students, teachers and hospital staff met NBA legend and business mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who promised some a trip to LA.

Johnson, who owns the food service company SodexoMAGIC at the hospital, praised the staff for their hard work.

But the five-time NBA champion received the loudest cheers when he presented a plaque and guaranteed 23 students from the Springfield Promise Neighborhood program a trip to Los Angeles and Disneyland if they work hard in school and get good grades.

“I’m from a small town just like this,” said Johnson, who grew up in Lansing, Michigan.

Johnson told the students that after receiving a college scholarship, he went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers and now is part of the ownership group for the major league baseball team the Los Angeles Dodgers and has 125 Starbucks restaurants among other successful businesses.

“So you can’t tell me that you can’t reach your goals and dreams living right here in Springfield because you can do that. But you gotta get good grades and be a good person, right, and listen to your parents. It’s so important,” Johnson said.

The Springfield Promise Neighborhood project is attempting to revive the area around Lincoln Elementary on Tibbetts Avenue.

The effort is modeled after a New York City neighborhood charter school that was used as the focus of efforts to bring economic stability to low-income residents.

The neighborhood around Lincoln Elementary was chosen in part because 95 percent of its students qualify for subsidized lunches.

The Springfield Foundation and other community organizations pledged $300,000 over three years in seed money to kick off the program.

Bob Welker, director of Springfield Promise Neighborhood, said the visit motivated those in the program.

“It gives everybody courage. It gives everybody heart. It allows us to think more broadly about possibilities. It’s a big difference between somebody who is a celebrity and a hero. He’s starting to be a hero for these children today, and that matters,” Welker said.

Mike Wilson, principal at Lincoln Elementary School, said the experience showed the students they can achieve their dreams and likely made the students think more about their education.

“I won’t be surprised if all 23 of those folks don’t all end up with good grades and Magic ends up buying some plane tickets to (Disneyland). It’s a great opportunity that they get to meet a man like this. I think it’s incredible that he spends his time to give back to some of these kids. These are kids who need it the most,” Wilson said.

Darius Harper, a Springfield High School basketball player, said he will never forget meeting Johnson.

“It’s a wonderful feeling. It’s an experience that you’ll never feel again,” Harper said.

“He’s probably, if not the best Laker, one of the best Lakers to ever play all time. He was just a very good player and a Hall of Famer, an NBA legend, and it’s just a surreal feeling right now.”

Athletic Director Mike Dellapina said he was thrilled that Springfield High male and female student athletes had the chance to meet Johnson, who has been successful on and off the basketball court.

“He came from a similar upbringing and he has done not only done so much as an athlete, but his career beyond and what he’s done since is even more impressive than what he did as a player, which obviously was a tremendous accomplishment,” Dellapina said.

Paul Hiltz, CEO of Springfield Regional, said the hospital has partnered with SodexoMAGIC about four years.

Hiltz said Johnson and the hospital share in their efforts to give back to the community.

“He’s a great person, a great team leader,” Hiltz said.

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