ORLANDO – Wendell Carter Jr. has been in Orlando for under two years, but in that short time, he’s already made an impact in the community.
As part of his philanthropic work, the 6-foot-10 center has provided guidance to local youth through the Boys2Men Mentoring Program and encouraged kids to read through the Magic and Orange County Public School’s Pick, Read & Roll program.
Now, the Duke alum is looking to spread some holiday cheer for underprivileged families in Orlando.
Carter, along with Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley, Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw, Florida Blue, and Magic staff members, distributed 350 Thanksgiving meals to underserved families in the Central Florida area on Tuesday evening.
“I’m excited, just to get my footprint in the city,” said Carter. “The philanthropic work, I want to get more involved in. This is just the beginning of it. Just to get my feet wet. As I get more comfortable and more acclimated with the city, I’ll have bigger and better things for kids and families all over Orlando.”
Along with a turkey, families also received all the trimmings, including green beans, gravy, corn, stuffing, sweet potato and pumpkin pies. All of those donated meals were made possible thanks to the generosity of Carter and the Platform² Foundation (the Carter family); Florida Blue; the Magic; and supporting partner, Kroger.
“Giving back to the community has probably been the biggest thing for the Magic organization behind playing basketball,” said Carter. “The Magic are big on just helping out in the community, especially here in Orlando. The DeVos family takes a lot of pride in helping out other families in need. I definitely respect that, and I can definitely get behind that.”
The giving season for the Magic is just getting started.
Next Monday, Magic point guard Markelle Fultz will sponsor a turkey dinner distribution event, providing approximately 500 Thanksgiving meals to underserved families.
Then, on Thanksgiving morning, as part of the Magic’s annual tradition, Mosley, Outlaw, 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,” said Mosley. “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.”