ORLANDO - The last two seasons, following games against them, opponents would often applaud the Orlando Magic for how hard they played and how resilient they were. Being very young and inexperienced, the Magic didn’t come out on top in many of those games. But it was clear to the coaches and players on the other bench that Orlando was heading in the right direction.
Now, a little more seasoned while still playing extremely hard, the Magic have turned a corner, as they currently sit in the top four in the Eastern Conference standings.
Beyond basketball, and sports in general, the premise is the same. Those who work hard and stay resilient, even when things might initially seem grim and extremely difficult, often conquer challenges and achieve success.
And the Magic, as an organization, love nothing more than to reward those in the community who exhibit those characteristics.
That’s precisely what transpired at halftime of the Magic’s game against the Miami Heat at the newly renamed Kia Center on Wednesday night.
This year, in what was the Magic’s 15th Big Give celebration, the deserving family was Cyndi and her three children. At center court, they were showered with an array of gifts, including two 50-inch TVs, an air fryer, a driveway basketball hoop, a kitchen aid mixer, and other household accessories. The Magic's partners and others also surprised the family with a variety of gifts, including $5,000 for home furnishings from AdventHealth, Disney tickets, a $500 Kroger Delivery gift card, a PDQ gift card, a gift package from TELETIES, and a Total by Verizon Samsung Galaxy A13 with an Unlimited+ plan.
To put the cherry on top, Kia announced that they are giving Cyndi a brand-new Kia Telluride SX.
“It felt unreal. It was totally unexpected,” she said with tears of joy and gratitude running down her face. “I went to a gospel program and the amazing thing about it was I was believing God for a new car before 2023 ended, and look what he has done. I’m grateful and I’m appreciative and I thank you all (the Magic and all the other organizations).”
This wasn’t the first time the Magic joined Cyndi and her family for a celebration. Last month, the Magic partnered with AdventHealth and Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County for the family’s home dedication ceremony in the Silver Pines Pointe community.
Cyndi has had to endure unimaginable grief the last few years. In 2021, she lost her 11-year-old daughter, Jordan, to bone cancer. Although coping with such heartache has been extraordinarily difficult, the family’s work ethic, determination and perseverance has helped them get through these incredibly tough times.
“If you work hard for the things that you want, you can make your dreams, your goals, everything come true – if you put your mind to it,” she said.
Throughout this holiday season, the Magic have been very active in the community. Last week, players Franz Wagner, Moe Wagner, Anthony Black and Kevon Harris participated in a Pepsi-sponsored shopping spree at a local Walmart for Boys & Girls Clubs children. That same evening, Markelle Fultz, his mother Ebony, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, Magic two-way player Admiral Schofield, Community Ambassadors Bo Outlaw and Nick Anderson, and volunteers from the team’s staff distributed holiday gifts to 68 Head Start program children ranging in ages between 3 and 5 years old.
On Monday of this week, Cole Anthony lifted the spirits of children with a holiday party at the James R. Smith Neighborhood Center. Then on Tuesday, Wendell Carter Jr., who made his return to the court against the Heat, hosted a holiday party at Planet Hollywood for 95 youth from Boys to Men Mentoring organization.