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Tracey Connor Named Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker for January

  • Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Makers

  • VIDEO: January's Fifth Third Bank Magic Maker

    Every month the Orlando Magic and Fifth Third Bank select a community member as the Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker for their dedication and significant contribution to the Orlando community. This month Tracey Conner is recognized for her commitment to educating Florida's youth on tough issues such as abuse, literacy, sexual assault, divorce and other challenging topics.

    Conner is the founder and executive director of MicheLee Puppets, a non-profit organization that addresses challenging issues in the lives of children through performances to teach and entertain Florida's youth. With a repertoire of large stage shows, intimate performances, workshops, training and program development, MicheLee Puppets is at the forefront of educational theater.

    Conner started her venture as a theatre major at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. There, she obtained a job as a puppeteer doing “Kids on the Block,” a disability awareness show, in Northwest Ohio schools. After graduation, she moved to Orlando and in 1985 decided to start her own puppet company to deliver important educational messages to students. Since it’s opening, MicheLee Puppets has given more than 1.4 million youth information and encouragement to make positive choices.

    “It is my personal mission to use my talents and gifts to make our world a little better,” said Conner. “I have a heart for children and youth and feel it is a responsibility and a privilege to provide programs that have a positive impact in their lives.”

    Along with being the January Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker, Conner has earned the 2002 Central Florida District of Rotary Internationals Non-Rotarian of the Year Award, and in 2003 she was awarded the Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin Award for excellence in the field of educational puppetry from Puppeteers of America. Conner is honored to be recognized for her efforts, but is mostly appreciative of the awareness these awards bring to MicheLee Puppets in the community.

    Conner also states that the most rewarding part for her is hearing from the children about what the shows mean to them and what they learn from them.

    “Many children have been rescued from abusive situations because they disclosed for the first time after seeing our child abuse show,” Conner said. “Hundreds of children have written ‘thank you for telling me that my parents’ divorce is not my fault.’ An autistic boy spoke for the first time in four years after meeting our puppets. There have been many children whose lives have been touched through our programs in profound ways.”

    For more information on MicheLee Puppets, go to www.micheleepuppets.org.