ORLANDO – Earlier this season, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac announced he had donated his Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award money to Project Life, an Orlando-based organization that helps individuals and communities around the globe develop their cultural assets and showcase their locally produced creativity.
Extremely invested in everything Project Life is doing, Isaac has participated in various fundraisers with the foundation since becoming a partner and advocate. This past summer, for example, the 22-year-old joined other Project Life-ers in a Hurricane Dorian relief mission in which they packed thousands of necessities such as food, toiletries, air beds and baby supplies into 40-foot trailers for struggling Bahamians.
They were joined by other volunteers, too, including a Bahamian high school basketball team, the Sunland Stingers, who he had originally met and bonded with in the Bahamas during a hoops clinic that he participated in.
When he found out they were visiting for a basketball tournament during this holiday week, Isaac wanted the Stingers to get a taste of what being at an NBA game is like. So, with no pause, the kind-hearted Isaac invited the team to his team’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.
At Amway Center from section 118, the Stingers watched Isaac and the rest of the Magic play against the Hawks – an experience they will certainly never forget. It was especially meaningful for 16-year-old Latrez McIntosh, who had previously never been to an NBA game. Not only impressed with the Bronx, New York native’s abilities on the court, McIntosh admires Isaac’s compassion as well.
“He’s awesome. He’s a really fun guy,” the high school point guard said.
“I never saw anything like this before. Good to see it in person,” he added about the fun he was having at the game.
Connecting with youth and helping them reach their full potential is something Isaac is very passionate about. Ever since the Magic selected him sixth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Isaac has participated in many community events aimed at inspiring children.
“It’s more of a blessing to give than receive and I try to just do my best to model that,” he said. “I want to make it a part of who I am and not just something that I do. That’s the road that I’m on. When you think of J.I., Judah, that’s what you think about.”
Another event Isaac participated in with Project Life last summer took place in Trinidad, where they held their Global Food Festival to celebrate culture, heritage, diversity and unification while assisting those in need with food, clothes, children’s toys and other supplies.
Knowing that the Magic care just as much about the community as he does makes it even more special.
“I think it’s amazing. The DeVos family have a great Christian foundation. I know that they believe the same thing in terms of being a blessing to other people who are less fortunate,” Isaac said. “The Orlando Magic do an amazing job of activating us in the community and just doing everything that they do with OMYF, just the million things that they do. I’m very grateful to be a part of this organization.”