Lincoln and NBA Legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson Kick Off Football's Biggest Week
* 'Lincoln Presents: A Legendary Night' will be hosted by Lincoln, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and retired Detroit Lion, Robert Porcher III, and will feature a unique collection of over 100 pieces, chronicling the experience of African Americans in professional football, both on and off the field
* Monies raised from the event will benefit three charities, Magic Johnson Foundation, Robert Porcher Charities and Charles H. Wright Museum for African American History. The dollars raised will be in addition to the millions Lincoln provided to the Magic Johnson Foundation and the Charles H. Wright Museum for African American History over the past 25 years
* Event attendees will register on-line at Lincoln's recently launched urban website, lincolnlounge.com, to win prizes, including trips and specially autographed memorabilia
DETROIT, Jan. 25 -- The celebration for football's biggest week shifts into high gear on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 with an event celebrating some of the game's greatest names. Ford Motor Company's luxury brand Lincoln is staging Lincoln Presents: A Legendary Night, a spectacular fund-raising event hosted by Lincoln, NBA icon Earvin "Magic" Johnson and retired NFL great Robert Porcher, III.
Lincoln Presents: A Legendary Night will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and will benefit three charitable organizations; the Magic Johnson Foundation, Porcher & Friends Charities, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
VIP guests, athletes, celebrities, and patrons of the arts will experience first hand the museums new NFL exhibit "Gridiron to Greatness: African Americans in Professional Football." It's a collection of over one hundred pieces of photography, text, art and artifacts, video and memorabilia chronicling the history and contributions of Blacks in professional football, and their place in the rich tradition and history of the National Football League.
The exhibit, which runs through March 26, 2006, explores the issue of racism and the role of sports desegregation. It features football legends and greats such as: Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, Jim Thrower, Hall of Famer Lem Barney, Rodney Peete and Robert Porcher, all of whom will be on-hand to autograph special edition, one-of-a-kind Game Books commemorating the "Gridiron to Greatness" exhibit.
"Ford Motor Company and Lincoln have had a long and proud history with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and similar institutions across the country that recognize the Black experience in America," said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division. "Gridiron to Greatness showcases those who have lived the American Dream through hard work and perseverance, and whose accomplishments we celebrate as a significant mark on the nation's history."
The evening's hosts Hazel, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Robert Porcher III will lead a poignant tour through the museum's core exhibit, which takes an unflinching view into the tumultuous journey and uplifting history of African Americans and their experience in America. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will additionally grant each attending guest an associate membership to the museum.
A Legendary Night entertainment portion will be just that ... legendary! The incomparable Harvey Mason and Friends will be performing live, featuring an incredible line up of entertainers including the song styling of Howard Hewitt and Vesta Williams, with Freddie Washington on Bass, Paul Jackson on Guitar, Everett Harp on Sax and more. The culinary masters at Seldom Blues and Sweet Georgia Brown will provide signature dishes and cocktails throughout the evening.
Guests will enter the lincolnlounge give-a-way where the winner will receive a trip for two to "Vegas Sizzles", a special Magic Johnson event in Las Vegas during the Memorial Day weekend. The winner will be drawn at random from those who registered on-line during the evening, at Lincoln's recently launched urban website lincolnlounge.com. For more information on Gridiron to Greatness log onto http://www.maah-detroit.org/.
About the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Founded in 1965, The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, exists to serve Metropolitan Detroit and national communities by providing exceptional exhibitions and programs based on outstanding collections and research that explore the diversity of African American history and culture. The museum's core exhibit is "And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture". This long-term exhibition is the central experience of the museum. The 22,000 square-foot exhibition space contains more than 20 galleries that allow patrons to travel over time and across geographic boundaries.
About Porcher & Friends
The Porcher & Friends charities raise funds through special events, general contributions and contributions in memory or honor of special individuals. A signature program of Porcher & Friends is the cancer relief fund, designed to ease the financial burden placed on families whose children are being treated for cancer at University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC). The fund supports people from across the world of any socio-economic status, race, ethnicity and gender.
About The Magic Johnson Foundation
Established in 1991, the Magic Johnson Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization which works to meet the health, educational and social needs of those who live in inner city communities.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/.
