Earvin "Magic" Johnson To Headline Annual Gala Event

BERMUDA DUNES, Calif., Feb. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Los Angeles Lakers Star Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. will deliver the keynote address at Desert Christian Academy's 24th Annual Auction Gala. The dinner and auction, which will take place on March 29, 2014 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, serves as the school's primary fundraising source.  Proceeds from the auction are crucial to the financial viability of the school and directly benefit Desert Christian Academy's more than 500 students. 

"It has been a dream of mine, as a Laker fan and a Magic fan, to have Mr. Johnson come and be our keynote speaker, so I am thrilled," says Dave Fulton, founder of the school. "Magic Johnson is a great athlete, and a man of great faith. His personal story is so moving and inspiring, I am very excited for him to be a part of this important event."

Magic Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers throughout the 1980s.  He announced his retirement in 1991 but returned to play for the All-Star game in 1992, taking home the MVP award that year.  In 1996, he played 36 games for the Lakers before retiring for good.  In 2012, Magic Johnson led a group of investors, which purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for some 2 billion dollars, a culmination of his many business pursuits since retiring permanently from the NBA.

Magic Johnson has spoken sparingly about his faith, but Dave Fulton knows that he has a message people need to hear.  "Magic's life has been a walk of faith, and I know he will be an inspiration to our Gala Auction audience. He's a giver, and this Auction is about giving back to our community, expanding critical programs for our students, and reaching out to as many of the valley's students and families as possible. It's a great stage for Magic's amazing story," Fulton added.

For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.dcaevents.org.

SOURCE Desert Christian Academy