The Magic Johnson Foundation returns to Michigan for their “Holiday Hope” events. For the third straight year the event will take place in Detroit, second straight year in Lansing and has now expanded to the City of Flint. On November 19th & 20th almost 5,000 families and 400 children will receive nearly $1.5 Million in food, toys, gifts and more. Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a Lansing native and the Magic Johnson Foundation will host the event.
Families in Detroit, Lansing and Flint who are identified by various community partners will benefit from “Holiday Hope” during this holiday season. The events will be located at Second Ebenezer Church, 140601 Dequindre Rd Detroit; Flint Northwestern High School, G-2138 West Carpenter Rd, Flint; and Everett High School, 3900 Stabler St, Lansing. Holiday Hope food distribution begins at 9:00am for Detroit, 9:15 am in Flint and 2:00pm in Lansing.
For the youth, 400 children will participate in holiday parties, complete with arts & crafts, entertainment, photos with Magic Johnson and Santa Claus in both Lansing and Flint. Each child will go home with a bag filled with the latest toys, a new coat, scarf and a bicycle! The childrens’ events will occur the morning before food distribution in each respective city.
“I want to help as many people as possible enjoy their holiday season. Being from Michigan, I understand the tough times that people are experiencing and I have to do my part to make the holidays special for them. United Healthcare is our presenting sponsor for the second year in a row. With their help and the support of all of our partners, we are able to continue our efforts in Detroit and Lansing while expanding into Flint to help over 12,000 Michigan residents this year. I am thankful to our partners and volunteers in helping us make such a significant impact in my home state, said Johnson.
Holiday Hope is a community effort. UnitedHealthcare shares the same vision and has committed as a presenting sponsor again this year. Additional supporting partners for Holiday Hope include: Cigna, Meijer, Macy’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Pepsi, Frito Lay, Quaker, Clothes4Souls, Grocery Outlet, SodexoMagic, Equitrust, Disney, Denny, , Starkist, Tim Horton’s, United Shore, ALBA, Walkerville Brewery, Campbell’s, Clothing Across America, Mattel, Clif Bar, FirstBook, MGM Grand Detroit, Crowne Plaza Lansing West, Dewpoint, FedEx, Rush Trucking, Popeyes, Greg Eaton, Joel Ferguson, Kris Nicholoff, Lansing School District, Flint Community Schools, Popeyes, and Feed the Children.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson as well as key executives will be available for brief press conferences in Flint at 8:45am and in Lansing at 1:30pm. Media is encouraged to cover the food distribution following the press conference. For Media inquiries in Detroit please contact (Carlos Ray –MJE - 310-593-3263), Flint (Jeanella Blair-MJF- 562-618-3388) and Lansing (Jeanella Blair – MJF- 562-618-3388).
SOURCE: Press Release
