April 1, 2006

Orlando, FL – The Orlando Magic’s Bo Outlaw was named the 2005-2006 winner of the Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award Saturday night at the 16th Annual Black Tie & Tennies Charity Gala held at the TD Waterhouse Centre benefiting the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF), a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. This marks the second time Outlaw has won the award (1998-1999 and 2005-2006).

Each year at the Gala, OMYF honors a player who has dedicated his efforts off the court for the purpose of enhancing others’ lives. An anonymous panel of community representatives selects the player. In addition to receiving the award, the player is granted $50,000 from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charity of his choice.

Bo's motto is "A happy workplace is a better workplace to work in..." and he lives this every day.

Bo is always willing to do whatever it takes to make his team and community a better place. He enjoys speaking with youth to educate them on positive alternatives and lists his favorite job as working at a daycare. In his short five months on the team, his impact on the community has been immeasurable.

Along with his busy game and travel schedule, he always finds time to volunteer and put his personal stamp on each event. Some of Bo Outlaw's activities this season included: handing out candy at the Florida Mall on Halloween, participating in a block party in an Oviedo neighborhood, signing autographs and taking photos with local residents, giving out turkeys and Thanksgiving meals on behalf of the Darrell Armstrong Foundation, assisting County Commissioner Homer Hartage with his Toy Distribution event during the holidays, speaking to kids at the Orange County Juvenile Detention Center about his childhood experiences, and participating in a meet and greet with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the recipients of his ticket program "Bo's Lil Outlaws", which provides 20 kids per game a chance to see the Magic play.

Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson were also nominated for this year's award.

Howard, the winner of last year's Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award, also made himself very visible in the Orlando community this year. His love for children didn't go unnoticed as he volunteered much of his time to the youth in Central Florida and his hometown of Atlanta. He advised youngsters that hard work and faith will bring you to the top. He continues his community outreach touching a variety of groups.

Some of Dwight Howard's activities this season included: participating in the OMYF golf tournament by greeting every foursome, taking photos with the teams and signing autographs, recording stories for the Read to Achieve storyline, hosting the 1st Annual Dwight Howard Prayer Breakfast for high school athletes, helping to build a playground for children in central Florida, and lending a helping hand to build a house for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition television show.

Nelson has blossomed in his second year in the league, emerging as one of the Magic's go-to players and becoming part of the core the Magic would like to build around for the future. Many of his teammates consider him a leader and Dwight Howard even called him his "mentor". He says after his career he would like to work with kids.

Among his many on-the-court accomplishments, his commitment to the community is just as influential. Some of Jameer Nelson's activities this season included: serving as a school crossing guard at Metro West Elementary School and joining Steve Francis and Dwight Howard at Francis' Holiday Extravaganza– Toy Distribution at Smith Center.

Past winners of the award include Nick Anderson (1995-1996), Penny Hardaway (1996-1997), Darrell Armstrong (1997-1998, 1999-2000), Bo Outlaw (1998-1999), Grant Hill (2000-2001), Monty Williams (2001-2002), Tracy McGrady (2002-2003), Pat Garrity (2003-2004) and Dwight Howard (2004-2005).

The annual Black Tie & Tennies Charity Gala, along with the Player Championship for Charity Golf Tournament and on-line auctions, represent the most significant fund-raisers of the OMYF.

The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, 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. Over 16 years, the OMYF has raised and distributed more than $13 million to local non-profit organizations.