Working to Give: Philanthropies & Philanthropic Work

On May 9th, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and his wife, Cookie, received the first-ever Roger Staubach Award in the packed room at the Omni Dallas Hotel. They were part of the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational presented by SoftLayer, which managed, by the end of the weekend, to raise $1 million for the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.

These charities funds unique educational opportunities and enrichment programs for underserved children. The Staubach Award, named for the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, was established “to recognize individuals who have brought together the world of sports/entertainment and business to make an extraordinary impact on the lives of children and youth.” It will be given out to recipients who exemplify personal, professional and philanthropic excellence.

While accepting the sterling trophy created to Tiffany & Co., Magic Johnson said that, as he neared the end of his NBA career, he looked for a sports figure to emulate. As he said, “I decided that’s who I want to be like – Roger Staubach. I’ve been chasing this man for years like a big defensive lineman.”

As Pat Smith said, “I can’t think of a better way to kick off our fifth year than with a new award named after our good friend and hero, Roger Staubach. And it’s such a thrill to give the first award to Cookie and Magic, an incredible power couple who have set the bar very high and been a true inspiration to Emmitt and me.”