April 6, 2007

The children of the Boys & Girls Club join Magic players for the ribbon cutting ceremony for their new playground.

More than 160 children will daily have a safe place to play thanks to the efforts of the Orlando Magic, the city of Sanford and KaBoom!

The three organizations, along with many other area volunteers teamed up to build a new playground in just one day for Sanford children at the Boys and Girls Club.

More than 200 volunteers came together to clear out the area, build the new playground and lay mulch at the club. The new playground’s design was based on drawings developed by children who will use the playground at a Design Day event in February.

Magic players Dwight Howard, Carlos Arroyo, Bo Outlaw and Tony Battie, along with former player and Community Ambassador Nick Anderson, Stuff the Magic Mascot and the Orlando Magic Dancers also attended the event and all pitched in and worked, helping make the day a huge success.

The Orlando Magic is committed to the community. 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.

KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Over the past decade, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct over 1,100 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including a web portal and online community, regional and national trainings, grants and publications for communities that wish to plan a new playspace on their own. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.