March 28, 2012
ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation’s (OMYF) Black Tie and Tennies Charity Gala raised $505,000, with matching funds at .50 on the dollar provided by the McCormick Foundation. All proceeds benefit the OMYF.
The 22nd Annual OMYF Black Tie and Tennis Charity Gala presented by FAIRWINDS Credit Union was held on March 24 at the Amway Center. More than 700 guests were in attendance for an evening of silent and live auctions, gourmet food, activities and interaction with Magic players, coaches and executives. One of the highlights of the evening was the announcement of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award winner. This year the co-winners of the award were Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard and Magic guard J.J. Redick for the efforts off the court and in the Central Florida community. Both Howard and Redick will receive $50,000 (for a total of $100,000) from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charities of their choice.
From educational and arts programs to health programs focused on preventing childhood obesity, the OMYF is dedicated to nourishing the minds and bodies of children that need it most.
Over the last 22 years, more than $17 million has been distributed to local non-profit community organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF) since 1994. The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation raises community dollars annually through donations, auctions and events such as the Black Tie and Tennies Gala and the OMYF Golf Tournament with matching funds at .50 on the dollar provided by the McCormick Foundation. In 2012, in addition to presenting checks totaling $1 million to 19 non-profit organizations the OMYF will also award scholarships totaling $30,000. To learn more, visit omyf.org.