ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic know a thing or two about being on a journey with a clear goal in mind. From an historical perspective, two of their journeys included NBA Finals appearances – first in 1995 and then again in 2009. Of course, in both those eras, it took an incredible amount of patience, discipline, hard work, and resilience to reach that destination.
The Magic are hopeful that the current journey they are on will lead them back to the Finals in the next few years. Based on how they have started this season, they seem to be on the right track.
What’s so interesting, though, about the Magic is that they also play a big part in guiding people through their own personal journeys.
The most recent such case was that of Cyndi, a Pre-K teacher, and her three children. On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the Magic teamed up with AdventHealth and Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County to celebrate their transition into their new Silver Pines Pointe community home.
“To partner with Habitat for Humanity and AdventHealth and to give the house to Cyndi is special,” Magic President of Business Operations Charles Freeman said. “She, as you heard her story, spent three years trying to get through this process. Her mom was a Habitat for Humanity homeowner. That’s where she got a lot of her inspiration…We are so happy for her and that patience and perseverance (paid off), and that’s what it’s all about.”
At the conclusion of the home dedication ceremony, Cyndi and her kids were surprised with more gifts from the Magic, including a team-themed welcome home plaque, customized Magic jerseys, and courtside tickets to Orlando’s game at Amway Center against the Miami Heat on Dec. 20.
“Joy and gratitude. I’m so appreciative for the journey itself because through experience comes the best lessons,” Cyndi said. “I’m truly grateful for the Orlando Magic, AdventHealth and Habitat for Humanity for the support that I received.”
Cyndi has had to overcome quite a bit to get to this point. Most difficult has been coping with the loss of one of her daughters, Jordan, who died two years ago from bone cancer at age 11.
The family’s new home will now be a place to honor and celebrate her life.
“For her birthday, we normally go out to the cemetery. But now that we have our home, we are able to celebrate her in our new home,” Cyndi said. “We always make sure she is a part of our journey. I’m going to create a space in our home for her, so she’s always going to be on this journey with us.”
This was the 12th home and third in the Silver Pines Pointe community that the Magic have sponsored with Habitat for Humanity. The neighborhood will feature 58 single-family homes upon completion in Spring 2024. Each home will be Florida Green Building Coalition Certified.
The mission of Habitat Orlando & Osceola is to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat for Humanity partners with people in the community, and all over the world, to help build or improve a place to call home. This home will provide Cyndi and her family an affordable mortgage payment, creating a stable foundation upon which to build their future.
“Our relationship with the Orlando Magic is one we truly treasure,” said Habitat for Humanity Orlando & Osceola President and CEO Catherine McManus. “Our relationship has just expanded throughout the decades. It’s just a genuine partnership and one we are forever grateful for.”
As the old saying goes, “there’s no I in team,” and that certainly applies to all the work that’s being done in the Central Florida community. When organizations band together, like the Magic, AdventHealth and Habitat for Humanity do to help others like Cyndi and her family, there’s so much philanthropically that can be accomplished.
“I think this is why organizations like this exist,” said AdventHealth Orlando COO Brad Hillmon. “It’s a community out here, and people need to have an organization like AdventHealth and an organization like the Orlando Magic that want to continue to give back, provide resources to the community, help lift the community up, and make the community better. When the two can join forces, it’s an amazing thing and it can accomplish great things.”