Source: brochure / Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
NBA legend Magic Johnson and his wife, Cookie Johnson, will be honored at a gala held by a charity named Nelson Mandela.
Hall-of-Famer and NBA mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson has been honored for his philanthropic work and is set to receive another honor alongside his wife, philanthropist Cookie Johnson, at an event celebrating the late South African's life. president and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. The couple will be honored for their philanthropic efforts at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Gala to be held in Cannes, France by Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. The event will take place on May 24th during the Cannes Film Festival and is held in partnership with Trigo Networks.
The Johnsons were selected as “icons who have embodied global humanitarianism through mission and action,” according to a press statement released by Trigo Networks. The event will feature performances by musician and actor Benjamin Clementine who recently appeared in the Denis Villeneuve adaptation Dune, along with Ugandan group Ghetto Kids, with others to be announced later. There will also be a presentation celebrating the bond between Nelson Mandela and the late opera star Luciano Pavarotti, with his wife Nicoletta Mandovani in attendance. The program will be directed by Manuel Alejandro Ruiz, also known as “Chosen Few”. All proceeds from the event will go to the Fund.
The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund was created in 1995 after the president decided to allocate a third of his salary to its creation. As expressed by the current Managing Director of the Fund, Dr. Linda Nkube-Ncomo, “his vision was that he would act as a catalyst for change in the way society treats its children and youth. He also believed that individuals, including him, would come and go, but the organization would continue to exist as long as there were good men and women who cared for the voiceless children of society. Magic and Cookie Johnson's contributions reflect the personal ethos of what led Nelson Mandela to establish the Fund. This gala truly celebrates those who 'Serve Like Mandela'.
