About Marcus & Foundation

Marcus was in 8th grade at Rincon Valley Middle School when he lost his life in a tragic accident on March 16, 2013. He was adored by the staff and student body alike. He loved and cared deeply for
his family and friends and was not afraid to show it. Marcus touched so many lives with his beautiful spirit, contagious smile, endearing laugh and boundless good humor. His sparkling blue eyes lit up the room.  

Marcus never disrespected anyone and was always positive toward others. He spent hours in the gym and at home on the pavement working on his basketball skills. He gave 110% athletically, academically and in everything he did. 

In an unforgettable assignment while participating in the NCBA (North Coast Basketball Association), Marcus described himself as kind, determined, competitor, courageous and hard working.  He had a tremendous work ethic, he was creative, very athletic and had many successes, yet he was extremely humble.  

Marcus will be forever remembered for his heart of gold.

It is from Marcus' compassionate nature, in which he often put others before himself, that the Foundation in his name took flight. It began with the story of an athletically talented boy who didn’t try out for the basketball team at Marcus’ school. The boy was in need of new basketball shoes but could not afford them. This really affected Marcus and he told the boy he would have given him his own shoes had he known the reason for not trying out.

After Marcus passed away, we received such overwhelming support from his friends, schools, teams, coaches and the community that we established The Marcus Johnson Memorial Fund in his honor, at Poppy Bank, 438 First St. Santa Rosa, CA  95401.

WHAT WE DO 
•   Purchase and distribute new basketball shoes and Foundation embroidered socks for local student-athletes and teams. The Foundation also provides embroidered socks to the Annual Sonoma County High School All-Star teams
•   Assists with AAU and CYO basketball program scholarships to student-athletes in need
•   Provide an Annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd grade through 12th grade players to raise money for the Foundation
•   With their coaches and families in attendance, meet with the student-athletes who are receiving new basketball shoes
•   Collaborate with the senior student-athletes at Cardinal Newman High School who are working with the Foundation for their Community Based Service Learning Project

Since its inception in 2013, the Marcus Johnson Memorial Foundation has provided the following to local student-athletes in need of assistance:

  • Purchased over 625 pairs of new basketball shoes for student-athletes in need of assistance 
  • Provided over 1,000 pairs of MJ embroidered Nike Elite basketball socks to student-athletes and local teams 
  • Provided 250 of MJ embroidered Nike Elite basketball socks to all of the high school boys and girls who participated in the annual North Bay League vs Sonoma County League All Star Basketball Game for the past three years
  • Each year provided scholarships and assistance for CYO basketball and AAU basketball to several student-athletes
  • September 2015 Valley Fire which caused so many to suffer so much loss, a big part of the 2015 tournament proceeds were used to purchase 65 pairs of new basketball shoes for Middletown High School Varsity and JV players, as well as Middletown Middle School Seventh and Eighth grade players.
  • October 2017 Santa Rosa fires caused destruction and loss beyond belief.  The Foundation has provided new basketball shoes of their choice, slides, MJ Nike Elite basketball socks and Foundation backpacks to 85 (and counting) local student-athletes (covering 14 schools so far) who lost their homes in the devastating fires. 
  • The Foundation is happy to bring a little bit of normalcy back in these student-athletes lives, by helping them get back in the gym.

 
Thank you to our sponsors, donors, tournament participants and wonderful volunteers.  We couldn't make a difference in these student-athletes' lives without your support.  Thank you all for being a part of keeping Marcus' bright light and giving spirit alive.

 

​Marcus Johnson Memorial Foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

Untitled photo