Although Johnson resigned from the National Commission of AIDS, his promise to advocate for public awareness and education about safe sex and AIDS continues on....
The Magic Johnson Foundation
Magic Johnson established the Magic Johnson Foundation the same year he announced that he was HIV positive with hopes of advocating for awareness of HIV/AIDS. It was his promise to the public that he would make his contribution in addressing the crisis. Initially, the organization prioritized its goals in raising funds to support other AIDS programs and to promote AIDS education (Jaramillio, Rowe, "Hollywood Hero Award Honors Earvin 'Magic' Johnson for His Work With the Magic Johnson Foundation"). One of the organization's goals on advocating for more awareness and education about AIDS is to train students about the issues so that they are able to go around their communities and spread the message to their peers (Everly, "Countywide: AIDS Volunteers Get a Magic Gift"). Additionally, in partnering with the Magic Johnson foundation, many AIDS programs were able to provide more treatment that are accessible and free for HIV infected patients. Cynthia Davis, Assistant Professor at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, identifies how the funds have helped the school to "purchase... [its] first mobile HIV-testing van in 1991" that ultimately provided 60,000 patients with the means to obtain a free testing for the disease ("Testimonials"). Since its launch, the Magic Johnson Foundation has also expanded its goals in not only helping to address the AIDS issue, but also in building community outreach programs that help to address the social, educational, health needs of various ethnic communities that suffer because they lack access to resources (Jaramillio, Rowe, "Hollywood Hero Award Honors Earvin 'Magic' Johnson for His Work With the Magic Johnson Foundation").
The Organization Today
The Magic Foundation today is known to be "one of the most recognizable charitable organizations around the world" (Jaramillio, Rowe, "Hollywood Hero Award Honors Earvin 'Magic' Johnson for His Work With the Magic Johnson Foundation"). Since 2012, the organization has raised and donated over 15 million dollars to communities who lack proper resources ("Magic Johnson Foundation"). These generous donations have also helped to strengthen the organization's campaign in combating HIV/AIDS. The foundation has fostered strong partnerships with AIDS programs and organizations such as the AIDS Health Federation in providing better and free treatment and testing options for people with AIDS. Both have established full-treatment centers located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and Florida that provide "state-of-the-art therapies, testing, counselling, and ongoing disease management healthcare to more than 1,200 people each year" ("Magic Johnson Foundation").
Celebrating 20 years of AIDS Advocacy
November 7, 2011 marked the 20th anniversary for Magic Johnson for multiple occasions. It has been 20 years since he first announced his retirement from the NBA, 20 years since he announced he was HIV positive, and, in particular, it has been 20 years that the Magic Johnson Foundation has spent on AIDS advocacy work ("The Magic Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Community Empowerment"). In celebration for all that Johnson has done, November 7th has been officially recognized as "Point Forward day" to commemorate his and the foundation's contributions in helping to bring awareness and prevention to HIV/AIDS as well as denouncing the stigmatization and discrimination that are attached to the disease ("The Magic Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Community Empowerment").