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Orlando Magic Encourage Youth to Journey to the Arts with Contest on Team Web Site

Released: 3/3/2010

**Magic continue partnership with Orange County Arts Education Center to expose more youth to arts**

ORLANDO, Fla. – As part of the Orlando Magic’s commitment to the arts, the team will hold a coloring contest for youth (grades K-5) on the ‘Kids Only!’ page of orlandomagic.com . The contest will begin today and run through April 30.

All young Magic fans (grades K-5) in Florida in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties are encouraged to visit Orlandomagic.com, print the coloring page, color it using any kind of medium and send the finished page to: Journey to the Arts coloring contest, 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd., Orlando, FL 32810 or via e-mail to community@orlandomagic.com. On May 12, three winners will be selected, announced and featured on orlandomagic.com. In addition, each winner will receive a team autographed Orlando Magic basketball. Click here

In an on-going effort to expose more youth to the arts, the Orlando Magic has partnered with the Orange County Arts Education Center (OCAEC) on several initiatives. Most recently, they have teamed up to offer 18 Title I schools in Orange County the opportunity to participate in a variety of arts-related experiences through the Magic Journey to the Arts Program.

Through May 2010, select elementary, middle and high school principals can sign up for field trips where students gain exposure to a variety of arts programming available in Orange County, ranging from visual arts to the performing arts.

This initiative is one of the programs developed by OCAEC to help create arts-related learning opportunities outside of the classroom and increase access to high-quality arts programming for young people who may not otherwise have access.

According to the Florida Cultural Alliance, students with high levels of arts participation tend to outperform students without arts access. Additionally, arts experiences have been proven to enhance critical thinking and other core skills in student academic development.

“We are grateful to the Orlando Magic for their support of this program,” said OCAEC Director Scott Evans. “These are valuable opportunities which could open new doors of learning for students who may not otherwise have this access.”

“We recognize the value of the arts to student learning and development,” said Orlando Magic Vice President of Community Relations and Government Affairs Linda Landman Gonzalez. “The opportunity to partner with OCAEC is a purposeful collaboration with results beyond measure.”

Through the support of American Coach, the children are transported to various local arts venues to participate in everything from a museum visit to a dance performance. The program is open to 18 Orange County schools with a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students (Title I schools). School principals must sign up for a field trip activity. There is no charge to the school or parents.

Participating schools are:

Englewood Elementary School
Grand Ave. Primary Learning Center
Howard Middle School
Ivey Lane Elementary School
Memorial Middle School
Mollie Ray Elementary School
Nap Ford Community School
Orange Center Elementary School
Orlo Vista Elementary School
Pine Hills Elementary School
Pineloch Elementary School
Richmond Heights Elementary School
Rock Lake Elementary School
Washington Shores Elementary School
Wheatley Elementary School
Jones High School
Evans High School
Lake Weston Elementary School

The partnership with the arts and OCAEC also aligns with one of the Magic’s focus areas. The Magic identified three key areas to better serve the needs of the Central Florida community: arts, education and health and wellness.

About The Orlando Magic

Orlando's NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic's mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. On the court, Orlando has won four division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009), had five 50-plus win seasons, and won the Eastern Conference title in 1995 and 2009. Off the court, on an annual basis the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise, scholarships and grants. Orlando Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 5,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, over the last 20 years nearly $15 million has been distributed to local non-profit community organizations via the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF), a fund of the McCormick Foundation since 1994, which serves at risk and disadvantaged youth. Ticket highlights include: 7,569 seats priced $25 or under per game; a $27 lower bowl ticket; and tickets priced at $10 per game. For ticket information log on to orlandomagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC.

Through the National Basketball Association's NBA CARES program, the league, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years. The NBA is broadcast in 215 countries and territories in 42 languages.

The Orlando Magic is also the developer of the Amway Center which will compete to host major national events, concerts and family shows. Opening in the fall of 2010, the facility will be operated by the City of Orlando and owned by the Central Florida Community.

About the Orange County Arts Education Center The Orange County Arts Education Center (OCAEC) is an initiative of the Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs division. The mission of the center is to build connectivity, collaboration and support among Orange County’s leaders, residents, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and businesses to make high-quality arts education accessible to Orange County students.