John Denton
Over the past 27 years, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) has awarded $22 million in grant money to help those most in need throughout Central Florida.
Back in February, OMYF presented 17 local nonprofit organizations with grants totaling $1 million. It is the ninth time in recent years that the OMYF has granted at least $1 million to assist local organizations in helping those most in need in the Orlando area.
That work off the court has helped the Magic make a sizeable difference in the Central Florida community – a goal of legendary owner Rich DeVos upon buying the franchise back in 1991.
The Magic take great pride in being leaders in the community and making a positive difference with issues such as hunger, homelessness, youth education and childhood obesity. That commitment is felt through the team’s actions and efforts in Central Florida. Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative (Magic Volunteer Program – MVP) provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually.
“In our 27 years, we’ve impacted more than two million children with the work that these organizations are doing with the different programs that they have conducted or enacted through OMYF funding,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are so many great organizations that are doing such great work and over the course of 27 years we’ve contributed, through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, to more than 500 local organizations. We need them to prepare our youth for a better future.”
2017 OMYF grant recipients: Adult Literacy League ($40,000); Aspire Health Partners – Zebra Coalition ($100,000); Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida ($75,000); Central Florida YMCA ($75,000); Christian Service Center ($20,000); Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida ($50,000); Early Learning Coalition of Orange County ($65,000); ELEVATE Orlando ($60,000); Foundation for Foster Children ($60,000); Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida ($50,000); Hope CommUnity Center ($55,000); IMPOWER ($50,000); Junior Achievement of Central Florida ($100,000); The Nemours Foundation ($50,000); Orlando Science Center ($50,000); University of Central Florida Foundation ($50,000); Valencia College Foundation ($50,000).
Photo Caption: (left to right) Junior Achievement President Kathy Panter, Magic CEO Alex Martins, Magic Vice President of Social Responsibility Linda Landman Gonzalez, Magic Chairman Dan DeVos, Junior Achievement Board of Directors member Tim Myers at the 2017 Orlando Magic Youth Foundation All-Star grant ceremony in February. Photo by Gary Bassing.
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