Feb. 11, 2015
ORLANDO – As part of the Dunk Cancer Social Media Fundraiser during the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend, Magic guard Victor Oladipo will donate earnings from the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest to three charities, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, Children's National Medical Center and the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. In addition to his personal contribution, Oladipo will assist the nonprofit, Dunk Cancer, by hosting their social media fundraising campaign during All-Star Weekend to encourage fans to donate as well.
Oladipo is asking fans to join in his charitable efforts by participating in his 72-hour fundraising campaign on Twitter and Instagram. The campaign will launch Thursday, February 12 at noon EST with Oladipo using his Twitter and Instagram accounts (@VicOladipo) and the hashtag, #dunkcancer, to encourage fans to support his fundraising efforts by purchasing specially designed “Dunk Cancer” T-shirts ($30, including shipping, choice of three colors representing the teams he’s played on) and hoodies ($50, including shipping). T-shirts and hoodies can be purchased at www.dunkcancer.com. During the campaign he will retweet/repost, share details from his All-Star Weekend experience, and announce surprises and giveaways for participants using the hashtag #dunkcancer.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be chosen for the Slam Dunk Contest and what better way to celebrate than share my good fortune with others through my partnership with Dunk Cancer,” said Oladipo. “It was difficult to choose one charity to donate my earnings to and ask fans to help raise money for, so I chose three based on locations close to my heart—Maryland because that’s where I was born and grew up; Indiana because I’m a Hoosier for life; and Florida because they believed in me on draft night two years ago. I hope fans join me in such a worthy cause.”
Oladipo’s contribution and proceeds raised during the social media campaign will benefit three institutions dedicated to treating and finding cures for various types of cancer: Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., earmarked for pediatric cancer; The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Ind., earmarked for breast cancer research; Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Orlando, Fla., earmarked for its Multiple Myeloma Center, which Magic Senior Vice President Pat Williams launched through a fundraising campaign in 2013 to help build the center.
About Dunk Cancer
Dunk Cancer contributes resources to cancer-benefiting nonprofits through basketball focused marketing and fundraising campaigns. The organization brings the basketball community together to help individuals and families affected by cancer to overcome their present battles and to support cure research. The NBA’s Terrance Ross, winner of the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk contest, hosted a Dunk Cancer fundraising campaign during the 2013 All-Star festivities in support of Portland, Oregon-based Children’s Cancer Association www.joyrx.org. Ross raised nearly $10,000.
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. The Magic have seen great success in a relatively short history, winning five division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010) with seven 50-plus win seasons and capturing 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 6,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, over the last 25 years more than $19.8 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF) since 1994, which serves at-risk youth. Ticket highlights for the Magic's 2014-15 season in the Amway Center, honored with TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ 2013 Customer Experience Award and named SportsBusiness Journal's 2012 Sports Facility of the Year, include: 2,500 seats priced $20 or less, 8,000 seats priced $40 or less and 9,000 seats priced $50 or under. For ticket information log on to OrlandoMagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC.