On July 20th, 2000, AHF collaborated with Magic Johnson to open a state-of-the-art AIDS healthcare center serving Oakland and Alameda County. The clinic, named the Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr. Clinic, was the first AHF care facility in Northern California and aimed to do significant outreach to underserved populations in the area, particularly African Americans. The goal was to improve patient access to quality medical care and social services by combining both in a community-based setting.
Earlier that same year, Magic Johnson joined AHF in unveilingTHRIVE Magazine, a national magazine targeting minoritized groups living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. THRIVE Magazine sought to address the impact of HIV/AIDS by providing resources from a broader perspective concerning education and treatment. The goal was to reach communities that were less likely to have access to medical care and information for the treatment of HIV. THRIVE Magazinelaunched its national promotions campaign at Magic Johnson’s NBA All StarParty.
Magic Johnson became involved in numerous AHF campaigns, including the 2010“Testing America,” a three-week free HIV testing campaign with mobile testing united visiting hard-hit Southern US cities. Working with respected local community agencies and providing 727 HIV tests. Multiple AHF clinics were opened in conjunction with Magic Johnson, including healthcare centers in Florida and Atlanta, and the former NBA star attended and participated in AHF’s California Music Festival and AIDS Walk in 2012. That same year, the Magic JohnsonFoundation partnered with AHF to hold a special VIP screening of the documentary “TheAnnouncement”, chronicling Magic John’s historic decision to publicly announce his HIV status.
In 1991, just several days before AHF’s first AIDS CableThon, Magic Johnson announced that he was HIV positive to the world. His brave decision to speak out sparked an influx of donations to AHF’s CableThon, many in the amount of $32 to honor Johnson, who wore the number 32 for the Los Angeles Lakers for 12 years.
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