365 Days of Magic

Orlando, FL – In its continued commitment to the community efforts, the Orlando Magic gave a total of $7.6 million to local education, charities and non-profit organizations between June 2005 and June 2006, while the Magic staff volunteered 750 hours of community service and the players and coaching staff made 250 appearances over that same time frame. Highlights of the past year include:

• Donations of 400 autograph items for charity, estimated at $50,000.
• Seven of the Magic’s Read to Achieve (RTA) partner schools showed improvement in FCAT scores. In addition, a total of $32,000 was given to improve media centers at local schools.
• More than 46,000 books were read through the Magic’s RTA incentive program.
• In early May, the Magic donated care packages to over 100 Marines from the Central Florida area stationed in Northern Iraq.
• At the last Magic home game of the season, the Magic donated a total of $7,500 to 15 community partners on behalf of select season ticket holders.
• A $6.5 million gift to the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate program at the University of Central from Magic Chairman Richard DeVos through the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.
• Distributed $30,000 in scholarships to Central Florida high school students.
• Raised $346,000 for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation at the Magic’s 2006 Black Tie and Tennies Charity Gala.
• More than 30,000 tickets reached the hands of youth and families whom might not otherwise see a NBA game.
• Orlando Magic community relations efforts impact an estimated 75,000 children annually through player appearances, community partnerships, donated items, mascot and talent appearances and service projects.

“The effects of the books purchased, the incentives, and all the books read will be felt for a very long time,” said Loughman Oaks Elementary fourth grade teacher Michelle Lassetter. “I wish more companies would support schools in a similar way.”

The Magic’s community relations programs include Orlando Magic Read to Achieve, Black History Month celebration, Child Abuse Prevention, Hispanic Heritage celebration, Thanksgiving and Holiday Outreach, autograph sessions, Magic Achiever Scholarship, University of Central Florida Minority Scholarship, Partners in Education, Magic Volunteer Program (MVP), ticket programs, Share the Magic program, DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF, OMYF Fundraisers including the Black Tie and Tennies Charity Gala and the Magic Players Championship for Charity Golf Tournament.

The 2005 OMYF grant recipients: Adult Literacy League; BETA Center, Inc; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida; Big Brothers Big Sisters of NE Florida (Volusia County); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay; Boy Scouts of America; Canine Companions for Independence; Center for Drug Free Living; Central Florida Police Athletic League; Central Florida YMCA; Children’s Home Society; Christian Sharing Center; Coalition for the Homeless; Community Coordinated Child Care of Central Florida; Crosswinds Youth Services; Devereaux Foundation of Florida; Easter Seal Society of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Inc.; Epilepsy Association of Central Florida; ESTEEM for Florida Youth, Inc.; Foundations for Orange County Public Schools; Good Shepherd Corporation of Orlando, Inc. (Shepherd’s Promise); Justice and Peace Office, Inc.; Kids House of Seminole, Inc.; Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc.; Life Concepts, Inc. (Quest); LifeLine of Central Florida; LifeStream Behavioral Center, Inc.; Lisa Merlin House, Inc.; MicheLee Puppets, Inc.; Mustard Seed of Central Florida; Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc.; Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation (Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families); Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Inc.; Seminole County Victims Rights Coalition, Inc. (SafeHouse of Seminole).

Over the last 17 years, more than $13 million has been distributed to local non-profit organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Annually, Orlando Magic community relations efforts impact 75,000 kids. Ticket highlights for 2006-07 include: 9,752 seats priced $30 or under per game – the most in franchise history, a new $20 ticket in the lower bowl, and 1,963 seats priced at $10. For ticket information log on to orlandomagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC. Through NBA CARES, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years.