ORLANDO - If you’ve ever attended or volunteered at a community event in the Central Florida area that involved the Orlando Magic’s participation, then you probably saw, or even worked with, players of the team.
Year after year, they go above and beyond to give back to others. One Magic player that’s been extremely active in the community is Markelle Fultz. In many ways, he’s become one of Central Florida’s philanthropic leaders for his community outreach efforts.
Although certainly not doing it for accolades, he was recognized for his community involvement last spring when he was named the 2021-22 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award winner.
Around the holidays is when the 6-foot-4 guard kicks his community efforts into high gear. That’s no different this year, as on Monday, Nov. 21, with Thanksgiving just a few days out, he sponsored his Fultzgiving turkey dinner distribution event for the Eatonville community. More than 400 Thanksgiving meals were provided to underserved families at the Denton Johnson Center. It was the third time Fultz has held this event.
Fultz was joined by his mother Ebony, Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw, and many other volunteers. Community partners Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, St. Lawrence, Ward Chapel, Mt. Tabor, and New Bethel joined the Magic in providing food donations and assisting with the event.
“I think it’s huge – just to let them see that we are all the same,” Fultz said. “We are all human. We all go through issues. We all go through problems. And just letting them know they have somebody that believes in them and (are) always going to be reaching out to the community.”
His devotion to community service began long before becoming an NBA player. He remembers distributing food at shelters on and around many Thanksgivings during his youth in Maryland.
Now through his growing platform, Fultz is on a mission to provide a boost to as many people as possible.
“This is something that’s just like second nature to me,” he said. “It’s not really something that’s special or anything like that. I feel like it’s just who I am as a person and who my family are as people. Anybody that we can help, we are going to try to do that.”
His mother taught him about the importance of giving back at an early age. It makes her feel incredibly proud when he tells her about ideas he has for the community and the positive impact he envisions they will make on people’s lives.
“It means the world to me, because as your kids are growing up, you plant seeds,” she said. “This is how to be a good character; this is how to be a person who does what they say they are going to do. I tried growing up to lead by example, to give (and) to do…The seed I planted has grown and sprouted into a tree.”
Another one of Fultzgiving’s volunteers was former Eatonville Mayor Eddie Cole. He’s extremely appreciative of everything Fultz and the entire Magic organization do to elevate Eatonville’s residents.
“He’s not your average,” he said about Fultz. “I’m not saying that to be funny. I’ve been around the Magic for years, and I have seen guys come and they’ve done a great job and then they’ll kind of leave. This time, even last year, Markelle stayed here till the last turkey was given, and it was raining…The Magic have been great for our team and great for our community.”
Monday’s community event was one of three the Magic were/will be involved in for Thanksgiving. Last week, Wendell Carter Jr., Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley, Outlaw, Florida Blue, and Magic staff members distributed 350 Thanksgiving meals to underserved families in the Central Florida area.
On Thanksgiving morning, as part of the Magic’s annual tradition, Mosley, Outlaw, fellow Community Ambassador Nick Anderson, and other volunteers will serve breakfast to the 400 residents at the Coalition for the Homeless and the more than 100 unsheltered homeless individuals from the community. It will mark the 30th year that the Magic have hosted the breakfast. As part of the tradition, the meal will be sponsored by Orlando’s head coach.
“It’s what we have to be about,” Mosley said. “We talk about being champions on and off the court. Part of being champions off the court is doing the things that can help others. Our ability, the blessings and the privileges that we have, we want to be able to make sure that we share them with others. Those that are less fortunate.”