OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - The Orlando Magic’s next game at Kia Center – Jan. 19 against the Philadelphia 76ers – will be one of the 10 Classic Night home games this year. Thus, the Magic, as they’ve done four times already at home, will wear their 35th anniversary classic edition uniforms and play on the matching court, which evokes emotions from the past and taps into some fan-favorite memories.
Now, there’s an outdoor basketball court in the area that will elicit those same sentiments.
As part of the Magic and AdventHealth’s continuing commitment to the Central Florida community, the two helped unveil a refurbished court on Wednesday at the Kissimmee City Chamber Park Community Center with a design inspired by the Magic’s 35th anniversary court.
“This to me is an amazing thing,” Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez said. “I was born and brought up in the hood, and because of community centers like these, I was able to learn and get to where I am now.”
“This is amazing because we are taking the kids to another level,” she added. “It’s not all about computers and telephones and all that. It’s about on-hand stuff. This is going to open up their eyes – not only to them, but so that they can share it with others. We have to take care of our youth, and how better than bringing them to be athletes…Take away all those phones and give them life. That’s what we need. This is amazing what AdventHealth and the Orlando Magic are doing. To me, it’s a gigantic blessing.”
There to celebrate with members of the community, including 60 children who were also treated to a hoops clinic on the redesigned court, were Magic players Chuma Okeke and Caleb Houstan.
“I feel like it’s real special,” Okeke said. “Just the looks on their faces when something new is getting done in their community. It just gives them a creative mind to anything-is-possible type stuff. This is some type of stuff that used to happen in my community as well – teams coming out, rebuilding and refurbishing. It’s real fun to see them enjoy it.”
The court was a collaborative effort between the Magic, AdventHealth, GAF (North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer) and the City of Kissimmee. The Magic and AdventHealth also teamed up to renovate the community center’s teen room and garden.
The teen room additions include a new television, study tables, gaming chairs, pop-a-shot, video games and board games. The staff members also planted strawberries, basil and sunflowers in the garden. In addition, the Magic and AdventhHealth will be donating sports equipment for the center to accompany the teen room and garden renovations.
This is the fifth of 20 courts the Magic and AdventHealth plan to refurbish in the Central Florida area. The five courts completed include Wicklow Elementary (August 2021), the Callahan Center (May 2022), the James R. Smith Neighborhood Center (March 2023), Lee P. Moore Park (on April 5) and the current one — Kissimmee City Chamber Park Community Center (Jan. 2024).
At this recent Magic and AdventHealth court refurbishment in Kissimmee, GAF donated the material used to transform the sport courts and covered the costs of installation labor. As part of the project, GAF applied StreetBond DuraShield with Invisible Shade technology to the asphalt courts. The colorful pavement coatings mitigate heat while adding protection and have been proven to reduce surface temperature on average by 10 degrees during the daytime on sunny days. The collaboration is part of GAF’s social impact initiative, GAF Community Matters, which is focused on making a positive difference as neighbors and partners by leveraging roofing expertise, resources and products to help build resilient communities.
Both Houstan, who was raised in Mississauga, Ontario before relocating to Florida during his high school years, and Atlanta native Okeke spent a lot of their youth at local parks developing their basketball skills and playing with their friends. It was such an important part of their basketball journeys, so joining in on Wednesday’s special occasion brought back fond memories from their own childhood.
“I could definitely relate, just being able to go somewhere and just play with your friends, build relationships and have fun outdoors,” Houstan said. “It always helps when being a kid.”
As original Champion of the Community partners, AdventHealth has been working with the Magic on community projects that impact and benefit Central Florida. Magic Champion of the Community partners represent organizations that are committed to improving the lives of all Central Floridians. Since the Magic and AdventHealth partnership began back in 1989, they continue to grow their approach in community programming, unparalleled branding and category exclusivity in the area of healthcare while expanding their commitment to the local community.
“One thing I love about our organization, specifically, is yes, we provide opportunities for people to heal for rehabilitation and for us to get them back on their feet. We are a healthcare system, but we are as interested in the wellness of the community – wellness before someone even needs our care,” said Craig Moore, chief operating officer at AdventHealth Kissimmee. “So, when we see opportunities to provide that – to provide resources, especially in underserved communities – I think that’s very important. And that’s the way of extending our mission beyond just the business of healthcare. To find a partner like the Magic who are as invested in that – where we are on the same page in the way we look at giving back to the community – I think it’s just a wonderful thing.”
