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NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson pledged $500,000 to Louisiana's Xavier University to support student scholarships.
On Friday (May 9), Johnson appeared at Xavier's Centennial Gala, where he contributed $500,000 to $2 million in total donations made to support scholarships, per Black Enterprise.
The Centennial Gala was the university's 100th-anniversary celebration. Johnson said he made the pledge in honor of President Emeritus Dr. Norman C. Francis.
"The mark of a great man and who shows up," Johnson said at the Gala. "Because the man that you are, all the great things that you've done in your stellar career. And all the people that you helped. You became successful through your great leadership at Xavier… In your honor, I'm going to give Xavier $500,000."
Friday's Gala featured other famous faces, including comedian Bill Bellamy, who hosted the ceremony, and R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne, who performed at the event.
Francis, a graduate of Xavier University, served as president of the HBCU for 47 years, which is nearly half of its existence. During his tenure, student enrollment tripled, and more Black students have made it to medical school.
"Our Centennial Gala was a beautiful success," Phillip D. Adams, Xavier’s vice president of institutional advancement, said in a statement. "Not just that it honored Xavier's storied legacy, but that we raised more than $2 million to secure the futures of deserving students who choose a Xavier education. In just 100 years, Xavier has amassed various accolades, solidifying itself as a leader. I'm honored that we have been able to steadily raise necessary scholarship funds, and I look forward to what we can achieve in our next 100 years of excellence."
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