Orlando Magic Employees Contribute 6,000-Plus Community Service Hours to Central Florida

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

The Magic Volunteer Program (MVP) contributed 6,210 hours of community service for the 2012-13 Magic season (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) surpassing the goal of 6,000 hours as an organization for the sixth straight year. More than 220 employees (full time, part time, interns, players and coaches) participated in numerous events throughout the year with a large focus on the Magic’s three areas of interest—education, arts and health/wellness. The events included reading and learning center renovations, full staff food packing and distribution event with UnitedHealthcare benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank, Back to School event with Parramore Kidz Zone, Thanksgiving at the Coalition for the Homeless, Black Tie and Tennies Charity Gala benefiting the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF), OMYF Open charity golf tournament, Magic and Pepsi youth holiday shopping spree, NBA Cares Day of Service at the Christian Service Center and Habitat for Humanity, among others. This past season, the Magic had 27 staff members serve on a total of 64 different local boards including Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Florida, Heart of Florida United Way and Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, to name a few.

The MVP was developed to encourage Orlando Magic employees to get out and get involved in the community. The program began in July of 2006 with the goal of performing 2,000 hours of community service during the 2006-07 season; over 3,800 hours were tracked that first year. Since program inception nearly 41,000 hours in the Central Florida community have been tracked. MVP is unique in that it allows employees to volunteer during work hours. As an added incentive, employees who reach a certain level of volunteer hours in the community will be invited to a recognition luncheon and receive a monetary donation to a charity of their choice.

“The Orlando Magic’s commitment to the Central Florida community starts at the top with our DeVos family ownership,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “The DeVos family wants to ensure that our team provides a positive, encouraging example through our coaches, players and employees. From the beginning that has been a priority for the franchise, to leave an indelible mark in our community through our charitable endeavors. The Magic Volunteer Program is an important part to achieving that goal. I applaud our employees for their unselfish dedication to the Central Florida community and the outstanding volunteering of their time and talent.”

Through the program, employees are assisted with board placement in the community, opportunities to volunteer at all Magic sponsored community events, OMYF sponsored projects, while matching employees in a youth mentoring program.