Earvin “Magic” Johnson Announces Winner of His MAGIC Card’s What Inspires You? Video Contest and Is So Inspired He Helps Fund a Hoop House for the Philadelphia Urban Creators

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inspiration is indeed everywhere, if your eyes are open to it. When launching the MAGIC by Magic Johnson Prepaid MasterCard®, entrepreneur and NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, in partnership with OneWest Bank, FSB, and his MAGIC card team, went looking for inspiration last summer via their What Inspires You? Event Tour.

“I grew up in L.A. and have always been a huge fan of Magic’s!”

And they found inspiration in abundance. Consumers from all over the country submitted over 400 videos answering the MAGIC card’s question, “What Inspires You?”. Each of these videos was entered into a contest held on the MAGIC card’s Facebook page, with the 10 Finalists being decided by consumer vote. After careful review by a panel of judges, the MAGIC card selected Jeaninne Kayembe as the Grand Prize Winner.

Jeaninne’s prize was a trip to Los Angeles to hang out with Magic Johnson. “This is a dream come true for me,” said Jeaninne. “I grew up in L.A. and have always been a huge fan of Magic’s!” Jeaninne not only got to meet her idol but also got to go to a Lakers game courtesy of the MAGIC card. “Honestly, this whole thing is simply unbelievable,” said Ms. Kayembe. “I am so grateful to the entire MAGIC card team for providing this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Ms. Kayembe is the co-founder of the Philadelphia Urban Creators, a unique youth-led, non-profit organization that is working to transform blighted urban landscapes by building sustainable gardens. In the process, the Urban Creators educate, energize and ultimately empower a broad range of Philadelphia youth, including ex-offenders. Seeing Jeaninne and the Urban Creators in action during the What Inspires You? Event Tour inspired the MAGIC Prepaid MasterCard team to lend an unexpected hand.

The MAGIC card surprised the Urban Creators team with a gift to completely fund the hoop house that the Urban Creators needed to extend their growing season by three months. The hoop house was raised by volunteers late last year and is now fully operational. “We are so grateful to the MAGIC card for volunteering to help out—we couldn’t have done this without them,” explained Ms. Kayembe. “And I’m looking forward to using my MAGIC card to buy some new seeds for our garden in 2013!”

ABOUT THE MAGIC PREPAID MASTERCARD

The MAGIC card is a reloadable prepaid MasterCard® that offers an excellent way for cardholders to simplify their lives and better manage their everyday financial needs. Offered nationally and available at OnlyMagicCard.com or by calling 1.866.530.2272, cardholders can rest easy knowing the MAGIC Prepaid MasterCard comes from a reputable name they can trust and that their money is FDIC insured.

“I want people to know this is my card,” said Johnson, Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. “I created this card because money has changed, cash can only take you so far. I created MAGIC to make life simpler and safer, and allow cardholders to feel more in control. It’s also important to me to be transparent—we want people to easily understand how this card works, including what the fees are.”

ABOUT MAGIC JOHNSON ENTERPRISES

Magic Johnson Enterprises acts as a catalyst for driving unparalleled business results for its partners and fosters community/economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. For more information, visit http://magicjohnson.com/enterprises/index.php.

ABOUT ONEWEST BANK, FSB

OneWest Bank is the largest Southern California headquartered bank and is focused on delivering personalized, relationship-based banking to its customers. The bank has 77 retail branches conveniently located throughout Southern California to serve consumers and businesses, small and large. With total assets of $26 billion and $15 billion in deposits, OneWest has the size and the strength to offer a wide array of banking products and services, locally and nationally, and the stability to protect its depositors.

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