OMYF Spotlight

Josh Cohen

ORLANDO – Sadly, thousands of Central Florida children are forced to settle for junk food or even worse no food at all during long stretches of the summer break when school isn’t in session.

This past summer, Hebni Nutrition Consultants – along with a big financial assist from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF) – was able to work toward solving some of the hunger and nutrition issues that arise when kids are on summer break and the free or reduced school lunches aren’t available.

Hebni Nutrition Consultant’s goal to make a difference in the lives of youth throughout Central Florida got a big assist last fall when it was given a $30,000 grant by the OMYF-MFF.

The grant money went toward the “Keeping Your Diet Straight, Take Charge” program. It provides summer and after-school programs targeting elementary and middle-school youth in low-income communities with exercise classes, cooking demonstrations and parent nutrition training. OMYF-MFF funding allowed Hebni Nutrition Consultants to expand their programming to additional schools and increase the total youth served.

In the last 24 years more than $18 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, which serves at-risk youth.

This past year alone, the Magic awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raise the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.

“We really do get to impact youth by helping all of the great work that all of these organizations are doing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are hundreds of youth organizations throughout Central Florida who are doing great work to help at-risk youth and set them on a path for a better life. This is just a small way for us to try and help them do their work. They do all of the work, and for us to be able to distribute all of these funds and expand the number of youth that they serve or add another program, it’s incredibly meaningful to us.”

Hebni Nutrition Consultants is a community-based nonprofit organization committed to improving consumer’s health by providing comprehensive nutrition information. Their primary goals are to foster dietary compliance in existing diseases and to facilitate the prevention of nutrition-related disease through appropriate nutrition intervention.

HNC targets culturally diverse populations who are at risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and other diet-related diseases. In their state-of-the-art Nutrition Resource Center, HNC has conducted the K.Y.D.S Cooking Club, teambuilding and cooking instructions and several other popular programs.

Here is a closer look at HNC’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:

2014 GRANT RECIPIENTS FROM OMYF-MFF: Adult Literacy League, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys Town Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Foster Children, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Gift of Swimming, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, Orange County Library System, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Council on Aging, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, The Center for Drug Free Living-Zebra Coalition, The Salvation Army, University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION: Hebni Nutrition Consultants

HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANT’S PURPOSE: HNC’s mission is to provide nutrition education and strategies to prevent diet-related diseases. HNC is committed to improving consumers' health by providing comprehensive nutritional information to culturally diverse populations through seminars and community education programs.

2014 OMYF-MFF GRANT MONEY TO HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANTS: $30,000

HEBNI NUTRITION CONSULTANTS QUOTE: “We believe that if you can cook you control your destiny. If we can just get people back in the kitchen, we can help them live a healthier lifestyle.” – Hebni Nutrition Consultants Executive Director Roniece Weaver, MS RD LD

ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE: “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.” – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos

To learn more about the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, visit here

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: Hebni Nutrition Consultants

ORLANDO – Often faced with a lack of admirable adult figures and positive role models in their lives, disadvantaged youth often stray into trouble with no one there to provide direction. Elevate Orlando is doing what it can to give teens more structure in their lives and hope for the future.

Elevate Orlando is a civic nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping and empowering underserved youth to graduate with a plan for the future. Elevate Orlando links the Orlando business community to underserved areas through education. This is accomplished through mentoring relationships and public school courses rooted in character education and leadership development.

“If I wasn’t part of Elevate I think I would be lost and off track,’’ said Fredo Alexander, a member of 2014’s graduating class at Evans High School. “I probably would have been down the wrong road, hanging with the wrong crowds without Elevate Orlando.”

And then there was this testimonial from fellow Class of 2014 mate Ludy Martinez: “It’s beyond school inside the Elevate classroom. I had hope, but it was very little. After I got into Elevate, I thought I could do anything.”

Elevate Orlando’s abilities to make a difference in the lives of youth throughout Central Florida got a big assist last fall when it was given a $30,000 grant by the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF).

The grant money went toward the “Elevate More Students” program, which provides at-risk youth, grades 4 -12, with character development, mentoring and leadership classes during and after school. The program also assists students in developing a plan for admissions to college, the military or trade school. OMYF-MFF funding will allow Elevate to maintain and expand their life-changing program to an additional 120 new students on a weekly basis.

“Although you can’t take the place of biological parents, I think our teacher/mentors do a fantastic job of stepping in where there’s a void,” said Steve Cosler, an Elevate Orlando board of director.

In the last 24 years more than $18 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, which serves at-risk youth.

This past year alone, the OMYF-MFF awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raised the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.

“We really do get to impact youth by helping all of the great work that all of these organizations are doing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are hundreds of youth organizations throughout Central Florida who are doing great work to help at-risk youth and set them on a path for a better life. This is just a small way for us to try and help them do their work. They do all of the work, and for us to be able to distribute all of these funds and expand the number of youth that they serve or add another program, it’s incredibly meaningful to us.’’

Here is a closer look at Elevate Orlando’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:

2014 GRANT RECIPIENTS FROM MAGIC: Adult Literacy League, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys Town Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Foster Children, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Gift of Swimming, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, Orange County Library System, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Council on Aging, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, The Center for Drug Free Living-Zebra Coalition, The Salvation Army, University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation.

ELEVATE ORLANDO’S PURPOSE: The organization is dedicated to equipping and empowering underserved youth to graduate with a plan for the future. Elevate Orlando links the Orlando business community to underserved areas through education. This is accomplished through mentoring relationships and public school courses rooted in character education and leadership development.

2014 GRANT MONEY TO ELEVATE ORLANDO: $30,000

ELEVATE ORLANDO QUOTE: “The mission of Elevate Orlando is to equip urban youth to graduate with a plan for the future. We’re planning to be a part of the solution so that we can see lives changed and on a new path forward.” – Jack McGill, Elevate Orlando president

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: Elevate Orlando

ORLANDO – For most people from stable homes and solid upbringings it’s difficult to fathom situations so dire that kids feel the need to run away. Sadly, that sort of helplessness does exist in today’s world and Boys Town Central Florida is there to assist those who are the most in need.

Boys Town Central Florida (BTCF) is a beacon of hope for children and families in need of help, changing the way that America cares for them and their families by providing a continuum of care that strengthen body, mind and spirit. BTCF’s services include continuum of child and family services, intervention and assessment services, treatment family homes for adolescents, in-home family services, child and family support services.

Boys Town Central Florida’s abilities to provide those services got a major assist this past fall when it was awarded a $15,000 grant by the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF).

The OMYF-MFF grant money went to Boys Town Central Florida’s Intervention and Assessment Emergency Shelter program. OMYF-MFF funding will support the program’s care for abused, neglected, runaway and delinquent children, ages 10-18. The goal is to remove those being abused from dangerous situations, providing emergency shelter, assessing their needs and beginning to work toward family reunification or other permanent care and housing.

This past year alone, the OMYF-MFF awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary last season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raise the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.

“We really do get to impact youth by helping all of the great work that all of these organizations are doing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are hundreds of organizations throughout Central Florida who are doing great work to help at-risk youth and set them on a path for a better life. This is just a small way for us to try and help them do their work. They do all of the work, and for us to be able to distribute all of these funds and expand the number of youth that they serve or add another program, it’s incredibly meaningful to us.”

Here is a closer look at Boys Town Central Florida’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:

FEATURED ORGANIZATION: Boys Town Central Florida

BOYS TOWN CENTRAL FLORIDA’S PURPOSE: Boys Town is a beacon of hope for America’s children and families, changing the way America cares for children and families by providing and promoting a continuum of care that strengthen body, mind and spirit.

2014 GRANT MONEY TO BOYS TOWN CENTRAL FLORIDA: $15,000

ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE: “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.’’ – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: Boys Town Central Florida

ORLANDO – Learning to swim at an early age combats two major problems in the United States. It helps prevent cases of drowning, in which Florida leads the nation in the drowning of children under age five, and it reduces obesity, serving as a successful fitness activity.

The Gift of Swimming, a nonprofit organization that provides access to drowning prevention resources and education for the community’s underprivileged, is helping limit these tragic problems among children. And now, with the help from the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF), more and more kids are capable of protecting their own lives in the pool and finding a fun and effective way to live healthier.

Earlier this year, The Gift of Swimming was one of 25 nonprofit organizations to receive financial assistance from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, in an effort to build its programs. The Gift of Swimming received $10,000, which will reduce drowning cases in Central Florida and decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other health issues.

“The Orlando Magic has helped to save lives,” said Executive Director of The Gift of Swimming Susan Polder. “This is helping break the cycle of children that don’t know how to swim and it’s allowing kids to be more physically fit and confident with themselves.”

The grant money received from the OMYF-MFF is instrumental in the development of The Gift of Swimming’s Orange County Head Start program, which teaches three and four year olds from low-income families how to swim-float-swim. It also offers children very insightful nutritional information, including how to make healthy food choices.

This is the sixth year The Gift of Swimming has received aid from the OMYF-MFF and they are forever grateful. Polder says she has seen how much of a difference this funding has had in combating potential drowning cases and giving children a fantastic way to stay physically fit.

“The Magic (OMYF-MFF) has been very generous,” she said. “They are playing a big part in helping the community and those who wouldn’t be able to afford something this important.”

Around 200 children were in the program this past school year and the hope is that the number will continue to grow.

A grand sum of $600,000 by OMYF-MFF was awarded to the 25 organizations in January. A total of $3.8 million has been awarded by the OMYF-MFF over the past four years and more than $18.8 million in the past 24 years. Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually.

The 2014 grant recipients are: Adult Literacy League, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys Town Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Foster Children, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Gift of Swimming, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, Orange County Library System, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Council on Aging, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, The Center for Drug Free Living-Zebra Coalition, The Salvation Army, University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: The Gift of Swimming

ORLANDO – For teens in the position of parenting children, life is already stressful enough without also having to worry about supplying food, shelter and financial resources for their new family.

Fortunately for those teen mothers Orlando’s BETA Center is there to help out with some of the necessities of life.

BETA Center's mission is to give children and parents the knowledge and support needed for strong and healthy families, with a focus on teen moms and at-risk families. Parents learn about prenatal attachment, baby brain development, child development, infant mental health, school readiness and adolescence.

Pregnant and parenting teens are embraced with comprehensive programs designed to meet their special needs. Youth learn coping skills and the other developmental assets needed to successfully navigate school and life. Infants thrive under developmentally stimulating care. BETA Center promotes positive parent/child interaction, and helps children and parents grow together.

BETA Center is better able to meet the needs of teen mothers and their infants after receiving a $35,000 grant from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF). The grant went to the BETA Center’s Teen Parent Program, which provides educational and supportive services to adolescent mothers and their children. The OMYF-MFF funding will support program services that help teen parents gain life skills, increase their parenting skills, stay in school and make concrete plans for college, build a positive self-esteem and help lift them out of crisis and onto self-sufficiency.

This past year alone, the OMYF-MFF awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raise the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.

Here is a closer look at BETA Center’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:

BETA CENTER’S PURPOSE: To give children and parents the knowledge and support needed for strong and healthy families, with a focus on teen moms and at-risk families. Parents learn about prenatal attachment, baby brain development, child development, infant mental health, school readiness and adolescence.

ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE:  “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.” – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: BETA Center

ORLANDO – For those who have experienced college life, you know how strenuous being a student can sometimes be.

At the University of Central Florida, however, there is help for many young adults trying to overcome all the stress and complexities that come with being a college student. The First Generation Program, which provides disadvantaged students with all the necessary tools to succeed at UCF and beyond, has proven to be a huge boost for many aspiring professionals.

And now with assistance from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, even more UCF students are receiving supreme guidance. Earlier this year, UCF’s First Generation Program was one of 25 nonprofit organizations to earn financial assistance from the OMYF-MFF.

“We are extremely grateful to the Orlando Magic for providing us with this funding (which totaled $35,000),” said Belinda Boston, assistant vice president of student development and enrollment services at UCF. “In the way we use this money, we say it helps to keep kids in school. That’s our main focus.”

Students who enter into the program receive many benefits, including one-on-one guidance and advising from UCF staff, resources on financial concerns and scholarships and special opportunities to connect with community professionals.

“Our First Generation students don’t really have a support system at home when they come to college,” Boston said. “We help them build a network to survive and navigate the university system.”

By the time these students graduate, they often have gained so much extra knowledge and are ready to go on job interviews and succeed in their careers. Learning how to prepare a resume and tips on how to dress for success are just two examples of things acquired from the program.

A grand sum of $600,000 was awarded to 25 nonprofit organizations in January from the OMYF-MFF. A total of $3.8 million has been awarded by OMYF-MFF over the past four years and more than $18.8 million in the past 24 years.

Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 75,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 6,000 volunteer hours annually.

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: University of Central Florida Foundation

ORLANDO – It’s one thing to provide shelter and assistance to those the most in need – something that Harbor House of Central Florida does well. But it’s tackling the monumental challenge of breaking the cycle of violence where the nonprofit organization actually makes the biggest difference in the lives of families throughout Central Florida.

Not only does Harbor House provide safe shelter for the victims of domestic abuse survivors, but it also offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, emotional support and legal advocacy for thousands of people each year. The hope is that by removing threatened people and their children from dangerous circumstances that it will help break a pattern of violence that is often learned behavior through personal experiences.

Harbor House of Central Florida is able to offer even more assistance following a $25,000 grant they received earlier this year from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF). Harbor House CEO Carol Wick was on hand for the grant ceremony back in the fall and she was delighted to receive the financial assistance from the Magic because of all the good that it will help her organization do over the next year.

“This is amazing because we will now be able to shelter an additional 25 families. And that really is the difference between life and death for these families because these children can grow up in a safe home and it stops the inter-generational cycle of violence,”  Wick said. “Last year, we sheltered a record number of children in our shelter, almost 700, and we don’t want to ever say that we don’t have enough room or enough space. This allows us to stretch ourselves a little bit further thanks to help from the Magic.”

Here is a closer look at Harbor House of Central Florida’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:

FEATURED ORGANIZATION: Harbor House of Central Florida

HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA PURPOSE: Harbor House provides safe shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling and emotional support, and legal advocacy for thousands of domestic violence survivors and their children each year.

2014 GRANT MONEY TO HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: $25,000

HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA QUOTE: “This ($25,000 grant) is amazing because we will now be able to shelter an additional 25 families. And that really is the difference between life and death for these families because these children can grow up in a safe home and it stops the inter-generational cycle of violence. Last year, we sheltered a record number of children in our shelter, almost 700, and we don’t want to ever say that we don’t have enough room or enough space. This allows us to stretch ourselves a little bit further thanks to help from the Magic.”– Harbor House CEO Carol Wick

ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE:  “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.’’ – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: Harbor House of Central Florida

ORLANDO – For 35 years, the Apopka Family Learning Center has done an outstanding job helping underprivileged children and families develop lifelong skills.

And now with the assistance from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, this organization will have an opportunity to enhance and expand its apparatus to accomplish even more.

Earlier this year, the Apopka Family Learning Center was one of 25 nonprofit organizations to receive financial assistance in an effort to help build its programs. They obtained $15,000 from the OMYF-MFF, which will assist in staffing, supplies and training.

The AFLC provides a safe and rewarding environment for families to widen their skills. This helps everyone in the household augment his or her education and self-reliance.

“We are really thankful,” said John Manning, chief executive officer of the Apopka Family Learning Center. “This always makes a huge difference and will make a huge difference in our summer camp program. This helps grow what we are trying to do in Apopka and it makes a difference in the lives of our kids.”

A grand sum of $600,000 was awarded to the 25 organizations in January. A total of $3.8 million has been awarded by the OMYF over the past four years and more than $18.8 million in the past 24 years.

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Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Spotlight: Apopka Family Learning Center

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