Orlando, Fla. — The Orlando Magic announces their participation in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Green Week 2011, which tipped-off April 3 and will run through April 10. The Orlando Magic Green Week 2011 is presented by OUC—The Reliable One, Waste Management and O,R&L.
To kick off Green Week 2011, the Orlando Magic will be hosting a “Green Night” on Tuesday, April 5 during the Magic vs. Milwaukee matchup. The Magic’s other Green Week activities to include:
• “Green Tips ” promoting energy and water efficiency, recycling, reusing and more. Along with other related features displayed on the videoboard throughout the April 5 and 10 games.
• Honorary ball captains, in-arena emcees and Magic Dancers to wear NBA Green Week T-shirts during April 5 and 10 games.
• To raise awareness, Magic players to wear adidas 100 percent organic cotton shooting shirts featuring the NBA Green logo for all Green Week games (April 3-10).
• On “Green Night” at the April 5 Magic vs. Milwaukee game, Waste Management’s (WM) 2011 Think Green Art Contest Winner, Natalia Cubero from South Creek Middle School will be recognized on-court with Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson, Bo Outlaw, STUFF and a WM representative. Cubero’s winning artwork will also be unveiled during the game.
• On April 7, the Magic will partner with the City of Orlando and OUC for a special Amway Center announcement presented by OUC. To commemorate this announcement the Magic, city officials and Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida will plant an herb garden in the plaza area of Amway Center. The garden will be maintained by the members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida (Parramore branch) and utilized by them for special projects throughout the year.
• On April 8, the entire Orlando Magic staff will partner with KaBoom! and the Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC) to build a playground in one day for local youth in the Maitland Oaks Apartments. The playground will have several green components and side projects including flower gardens, landscaping, birdhouses and Waste Management will place recyclable containers/dumpsters around the area. Leftover food from the build will also be picked up and delivered to shelters and food banks through the Magic’s partnership with the “Rock and Wrap it Up” program.
• On April 10, when the Magic host the Bulls, Fan Fest will feature an OUC booth where fans can learn how to be green and save green. OUC also will announce a special promotion that will encourage and reward green behaviors.
-ORLANDO MAGIC GREEN WEEK 2011-
Other on-going Orlando Magic green activities include: a partnership with Waste Management and PepsiCo to bring new PepsiCo Dream Machines to Amway Center. The Dream Machine recycling initiative advances on-the-go recycling efforts in the country. For every bottle or can inserted into the Dream Machine at the Amway Center, patrons will receive a coupon for free PepsiCo products at any Central Florida Walgreens location or discounts at the Orlando Magic Team Shop presented by adidas. The Magic also have partnered with OUC to promote the energy and water efficient features in the Amway Center, including high efficiency air conditioning, low flow plumbing fixtures, a cistern for irrigation and more. In addition to the Amway Center being an environmentally-friendly building in a variety of categories, the facility is maintained by O,R&L Facility Services using environmentally friendly, Green Seal certified, non-toxic cleaning chemicals as well the use of recycled paper products. O,R&L Facility Services is recognized nationally and internationally for its commitment to sustainable facility maintenance practices. The Magic also continue its front office recycling program; re-usable/washable dishware and flatware available at both Magic office locations with live plants throughout the offices for a healthier environment and a continued partnership with "Rock and Wrap it Up" to take leftover food after Magic games and deliver to shelters and food banks.
“The environmental work championed by the NBA has influenced all sports leagues in the United States in a meaningful and public way,” said Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Senior Scientist Allen Hershkowitz. “We all recognize the cultural significance of the NBA, and I applaud the league’s use of its influence to promote clean air, clean water and a healthy climate.”
This season, the NBA is continuing to take steps to become a more environmentally responsible organization. To learn more about what the NBA and its teams are doing to “go green,” please visit www.nba.com/green.