Magic offers tickets to military personnel and families

Orlando, Fla.- For the second time this season, the Orlando Magic and Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, have teamed up to honor military men, women and their families with Seats for Soldiers Night on Friday, March 21, when the Magic take on the Philadelphia 76ers (tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.). The Magic and Harris Corporation will donate tickets to men and women in the military from Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, the Naval Air Force Station in Jacksonville and Orlando area military personnel for this Friday’s contest.

Seats for Soldiers Night will include taped messages to the military throughout the game, a kids’ tunnel on the court, a pre-game presentation and other activities for military personnel and their families. Earlier this season, the Magic and Harris Corporation hosted a Seats for Soldiers Night and more than 3,000 tickets where distributed. The Magic have hosted military members and their families at games for the past three years through Seats for Soldiers.

“This is just one way for us to show our appreciation for what they do for us every day,” said Linda Landman-Gonzalez, Magic’s vice president of community relations and government affairs. “We are immensely grateful for their service and recognize the sacrifices they make for our country. We hope to provide them with an opportunity to be with their families and enjoy that time together.”

Orlando’s NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic annually gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise, scholarships and grants. Orlando Magic community relations programming impact an estimated 75,000 kids annually. Over the last 18 years, nearly $14 million has been raised and distributed to local non-profit community organizations via The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. OMYF, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, focuses on helping every child in Central Florida realize their full potential, especially those most at risk, by supporting programs and partnerships that empower families and change lives. Ticket highlights for 2007-08 include: a franchise-most 8,417 seats priced $25 or under per game, a $25 lower bowl ticket, and for the 10th straight year, tickets priced at $10 per game. 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.