Magic Johnson’s heart has always been as big as his accolades (and then, some!), and his latest move proves it yet again. He recently put his custom-designed sneakers on the auction block to raise money for children of incarcerated parents. His goal? A whopping $1 million to fund college dreams. On December 12th, that dream came true. But just as the buzz settled, another legend stepped in with his own unique spin on charity.

The two-time MVP Steve Nash came to the forefront with a special request, calling all philanthropists to donate to the ‘Steve Nash Foundation’. The highlight of this?

A jaw-dropping custom pair of Nike Air Force 1 ’07s. Designed by Rico Worl, the sneakers pull inspiration from the legendary Tlingit story ‘Raven and the Box of Daylight’. He shared the news on his Instagram story, confirming the auction. The tale, which celebrates the trickster Raven’s quest to bring light into the world, has been creatively woven into the shoe’s design.

Here’s where it gets even more fascinating: Nash’s team collaborated closely with Rico Worl, who isn’t just a designer but also a basketball fan. His intricate touches—like a blue-brown color scheme representing the cosmos, the magical hand-crafted silver cabochons symbolizing stars, and silver-and-lapis accents that depict Raven in mid-flight—all make the sneakers a collector’s item!

Speaking of exclusivity, Nike donated these Air Force 1 ’07s for a reason. The size 9 women’s sneakers, paired with surprise goodies, are now up for grabs. Bidding ends on December 15th at 11:59 PM Alaska Standard Time, so time’s ticking. And while the minimum bid starts at $525, this one-of-a-kind collectible is expected to attract some fierce competition.

And just like Magic Johnson, Nash plans to use the proceeds for causes close to his heart. From education equity to preventing child abuse and improving outcomes for kids across the board, it’s a mission with the potential to change lives—one step at a time.

Magic Johnson’s $1 million auction for the community

It all started with the My Cleats My Cause campaign, where Magic Johnson decided to step in for a bigger cause. The 5x NBA champ teamed up with ScholarCHIPS, a local organization, to auction his custom-designed sneakers. His reason? To help kids whose parents are serving time get a chance at a college education. ScholarCHIPS, an initiative built for “children of incarcerated parents,” matched perfectly with Johnson’s vision of giving back.

Interestingly, the organization’s founder, Yasmine Arrington, was inspired by her own journey. With just a $1,000 grant from the LearnServe program, she turned a dream into a lifeline for more than 50 students. Many of them have now graduated. “We hope to raise at least $1 million with this initiative,” Arrington shared, confident this partnership could open new doors for even more kids.

“We are very grateful to Magic Johnson for his generosity,” she added. “My dream, my goal is to raise at least one million dollars, and then a portion of that, or all of it we will take and make an endowment.” This isn’t Magic’s first assist off the court. Just last year, he donated $600,000 to Delaware State University and pledged another $1 million.

With a $1.2 billion net worth, Johnson’s purpose is clear: to keep creating opportunities for those who need them most.