community

Aaron Burns

Students from Wekiva Elementary School earned a MagicFit Fun Day at their school!

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Magic Fit - Fun Day Recap

Dan Savage

ORLANDO –&nbsp;For years, amidst struggling to keep up with rising rent prices in a small apartment and dealing with constant housing uncertainty, Tanisha dreamed of having a home for her and her four children, where they could each have their own room, play in their own yard, and build relationships with their neighbors.&nbsp;

Last year, the Orlando Magic and Habitat for Humanity joined together to build a home for Tanisha and her family. On Tuesday, Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman, President and CEO of Habitat Greater Orlando Catherine McManus, AdventHealth Community Relations Director - Central Florida Division Meghan Curren, Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw, and STUFF the Magic Mascot joined Habitat homeowner Tanisha and her children to celebrate that dream becoming a reality with a key dedication ceremony. 

“These are some of our favorite days of the year, getting to see Tanisha’s face and STUFF giving her the keys to the home,” said Freeman. “It’s what it’s all about. It’s what we do. Community is one of the core values of the DeVos family and the Magic.”&nbsp;

Her family’s home is the 12th&nbsp;that the Magic have sponsored in partnership with Habitat for Humanity since 2010. The Magic’s sponsorship funds are used for the construction of the house, while Tanisha will pay an equitable mortgage that she can afford, like all Habitat homeowners.&nbsp;

“One of the things that makes our partnership with the Orlando Magic so special is they really all get into it,” said McManus. “It’s this huge behemoth of an NBA team and yet at the same time we have these personal connections and these friendships we’ve developed over the years. I think that’s what truly makes it so special is that it’s genuine, it’s authentic, and everyone from the Magic pitches in and does their part.”&nbsp;

After struggling to find a home she could afford, Tanisha was initially denied the first time she applied for a Habitat home because she was just below the minimum credit score requirement. In order to qualify for the program, applicants must show they have the necessary income and credit to pay the monthly affordable mortgage as well as a housing need and a willingness to partner.&nbsp;

She was then offered a spot in Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership mentor program, where she was able to receive guidance and put together a plan to increase her score. After a month of participation, Habitat staff ran her credit report again and she was approved.&nbsp;

“The Habitat program that all of our homebuyers go through is rewarding to us because we know that they are purchasing their home informed, empowered and educated,” McManus explained. “That’s important. Home ownership is a huge commitment. But we know that when they’ve gone through the Habitat program that they’re ready. They know exactly what the next step is.”&nbsp;

In addition to being selected as the 2022 Habitat for Humanity Orlando & Osceola homeowner, sponsored by the Magic, Tanisha and her family were honored by the team as their 14th&nbsp;annual Big Give recipient on Dec. 23. While attending the Magic’s game at Amway Center against the San Antonio Spurs, they were brought out to center court and showered with a number of holiday gifts and other items from the Magic and many of their corporate partners.&nbsp;

Among the gifts they received were a flat screen TV, air fryer, a driveway basketball hoop, home accessories, $5,000 of home furnishings provided by AdventHealth, a gaming machine from Arcade1Up, six Disney Park Hopper Passes courtesy of Disney, $500 from Kroger, one year supply of Papa John’s pizza, a $100 gift card from PDQ, and a gift basket from Magic Gaming. 

“We’re so proud to partner with the Orlando Magic on something that’s important in the community like housing,” said Curren. “It’s a huge need in Central Florida and were happy to be able to give back in this way. It’s core to both of our missions and our values to take care of the community of Central Florida and to do a project like this.”&nbsp;

Building her own home where each of her children could have their own room has been a long-time dream for Tanisha. And she was quick to express her gratitude that it’s now come to fruition due in part to help from the Magic, Habitat for Humanity, and AdventHealth. 

“They’ve been amazingly just there every step of the way,” said Tanisha. “I definitely appreciate it. Being one of the people to actually build my own home was just enough for me to say that I’m grateful.”&nbsp;

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Orlando Magic, Habitat for Humanity and AdventHealth Partner to Make Local Family’s Dream Home a Reality

ORLANDO –&nbsp;Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words are etched in history and elements of his message are interwoven into the fabric of culture throughout the United States of America.

His impact was so great that over the course of the last 30 years, people throughout the country have paused on MLK Day, reflected on creating systemic change, and used the holiday as a day of service. After all, as King once pronounced in a memorable 1957 speech, "life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’"

The Orlando Magic took those words to heart and honored his legacy through an MLK Week of Service this year. The Magic’s entire staff – close to 300 employees – volunteered at 16 different organizations for a total of nearly 1,000 hours as they undertook projects throughout the Central Florida community.

“It’s always so important to be able to give back, to be able to share, (and) to be able to care,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley, who along with his staff spent time running a basketball clinic at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida during the week. “To be able to show how much the community impacts us and how much we want to be able to impact the community. It’s about being able to spread and share joy and love and connect with as many people as possible to bring as many people together as possible.”

Over the course of the five days, the Magic participated in projects benefiting 16-plus organizations, including A Gift for Teaching, Boys & Girls Club, Center for Independent Living, Clean the World, Christian Services Center, Habitat for Humanity, Harbor House, Magic of Mentoring, Mustard Seed of Central Florida, Pathlight HOME, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Pet Alliance, Quest Camp Thunderbird, Salvation Army of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank, and United Against Poverty.

“It is so amazing,” said Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando Volunteer Coordinator Alyssa Bajek. “The Magic are going above and beyond. They are really being our community team. It really is the Orlando Magic. They are helping out all of Central Florida in so many ways. We are so thankful for what they are doing.”

While the Magic certainly ramped up their community efforts for the MLK Week of Service, their efforts in the community are felt throughout the year.

On an annual basis, the Magic give more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants. Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) which serves at-risk youth, has distributed more than $27 million to local nonprofit community organizations over the last 32 years.

Also, in celebration of their 30-year milestone as stewards and caretakers of the Magic and as an expression of gratitude to the fans and the community, the DeVos family recently committed to donating a total of $3 million to 30 nonprofits through the 30 Grants for 30 Years Initiative. This effort invests in people and projects impacting youth, essential needs for families, and community enrichment across Central Florida.

"The DeVos family has made that the point about it being about the community," said Mosley. "We want our players to be champions on and off the court. We understand that each employee has spent time this week going out in the community giving, caring, and bringing the community together. It says so much. From the top down, it really trickles down to each one of our players."

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Orlando Magic's MLK Week of Service

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Orlando Magic Honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy Through Week of Service

The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation held its 31st annual OMYF Open golf tournament recently, raising nearly $150,000 to benefit at-risk children in Central Florida.

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OMYF Open Raises Nearly $150,000 for At-Risk Youth in Central Florida

The OMYF recently distributed 13 $50,000 grants and four $100,000 focus area grants totaling $1,050,000 to 17 grantee organizations in Central Florida.

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OMYF Distributes $1+ Million to 17 Central Florida Organizations

ORLANDO –&nbsp;The core tenet of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) since its inception over 32 years ago has been providing assistance to at-risk children in Central Florida.&nbsp;

Throughout the year, the OMYF hosts festivals, fundraisers, events, and auctions all with the purpose of generating donations to provide a helping hand to those who need it the most.&nbsp;

One of the events that continues to be a driving force behind the OMYF’s fundraising is their annual OMYF Open, a legendary golf tournament featuring renowned sponsors, golfers, and Orlando Magic talent.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the organization hosted the 31st&nbsp;annual OMYF Open at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate and once again delivered a hole-in-one experience to participants on their way to raising nearly $150,000.&nbsp;

“It’s part of our DNA, it’s part of our culture, (and) it’s what (the late Rich and Helen) DeVos taught us all when they first purchased the team,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins. “It’s about giving back to the community, supporting our community, and enhancing our community. We get to do it in a fun way through golf tournaments and wine festivals and a lot of the other charitable events that we do around the team over the course of the year.”&nbsp;

Participants of the scramble golf tournament were provided with different specialized food and drinks at each hole, courtesy of the OMYF Open’s partners and sponsors, and had the opportunity to win overall prizes, longest-drive competitions, closest-to-the-pin contests, and a hole-in-one opportunity to win a one-year lease on a BMW from Fields Auto Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

They also had the opportunity to hit the links alongside Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw, former players such as Reggie Theus and Chucky Atkins, as well as prominent members of the team’s staff.&nbsp;

“You see a lot of the fans from time-to-time, but to be at a golf event and to have former players come back and catch up on old times, laugh, and joke, it’s awesome,” said Outlaw. “It’s good for the former players to come back because some of the fans now get to meet the guys who played before us or with us because Nick and I are always around. For fans to get the interaction with them, that’s great.”&nbsp;

The golf tournament is just one of many events this year showcasing the Magic’s continuing commitment to the Central Florida community.&nbsp;

Recently, the OMYF distributed 13 $50,000 grants and four $100,000 focus area grants totaling $1,050,000 to 17 grantee organizations in a surprise ceremony at Amway Center.&nbsp;

"On behalf of the entire DeVos family, we are so honored to be able to give back to this great Orlando community each year," said Magic Chairman Dan DeVos of the event. "The foundation of our family has always been one surrounded in community work. I truly am honored to be able to share in the excitement of all of these very deserving organizations."&nbsp;

In addition to the OMYF’s fundraising efforts, the DeVos Family Foundation is donating a total of $3 million to 30 area nonprofit organizations as part of the DeVos family’s 30 Grants for 30 Years Initiative, which aims to invest in people and projects impacting youth, essential needs for families, and community enrichment across Central Florida.&nbsp;

“It’s a really meaningful year,” said Vice President of Shareholder Engagement Ryan DeVos at the OMYF Open. “We’re celebrating&nbsp;30&nbsp;years of becoming caretakers of this organization. It’s really great to remember the legacy that my grandparents set&nbsp;30&nbsp;years ago, and now carry it forward to our third generation. We have a few third-generation family members down here playing (golf) with us – my cousin Cole (DeVos), Jordan (Richtsmeier) and Peter (Stewart) – so it’s fun just to have more family involvement and engagement with this organization, both OMYF and the Magic, and just carry that legacy forward.”&nbsp;

Each year, the Magic gives more than $2 million to Central Florida by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise, and grants. At the heart of the Magic’s charitable efforts is the work done by the OMYF, which is committed to helping children in Central Florida realize their full potential, especially those most at-risk, by supporting nonprofit organizations offering youth-based programs in the areas of education, housing/homelessness, the arts and health programs focused on preventing childhood obesity.&nbsp;

Over the last 32 years, more than $27 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. The DeVos family’s investment in the OMYF covers all administrative costs which allows for 100 percent of all donations to go directly to the foundation to benefit children and families in need throughout Central Florida each year. The OMYF raises community dollars annually through donations, auctions, and events such as the OMYF Open and its signature fundraiser, the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction.&nbsp;

“It’s been a hard time for these groups that we support because they’re on the frontlines,” said OMYF President Linda Landman Gonzalez. “This has been, truthfully, a pandemic of – I say – biblical proportions. To be able to get back out here and to give back is just what we’re all about.”&nbsp;

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OMYF Open Raises Nearly $150,000 to Assist At-Risk Youth in Central Florida

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30 Grants for 30 Years

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Magic Fit - Fun Day

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.