By Josh CohenApril 7, 2016
ORLANDO – As Elfrid Payton and other players around the NBA know, you can’t excel at your craft without good equipment and a healthy environment.
With this understanding, Payton decided to help create a more conducive setting for kids to learn and reach higher success in and out of the classroom.
On Thursday, April 7, the Magic continued its Fan Appreciation Week efforts in the community as Payton joined Chase and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to unveil a new computer lab and game room at the Wadeview Community Center.
The idea behind the upgrades is to not only encourage more academic focus but also help children be more social and have fun in a safe and rewarding environment.
“It’s always important to give back,” Payton said. “It’s something my parents always instilled in me to make sure I always give back. It’s something I take very seriously.”
As Payton remembers growing up in Louisiana, doing his homework and getting good grades came before playing with his friends and playing basketball. That means, if not for his dedication to education, the NBA would have likely never been a realistic possibility.
“My parents were always on me about making sure I do my homework before I go play,” he said. “Basketball may not have worked out for me so I made sure I had the grades to get a degree and go to college.”
The students were surprised with all sorts of goodies including new tablets that include educational software, new gaming equipment, an arcade basketball game, new furniture, books and some cool Magic decoration around the lab and game room.
“These kids work for it,” JPMorgan & Chase Executive Director Joseph Terry said. “They’re in school all day, they need a place after school. They need a place that is safe and they need a place for learning. Chase Bank couldn’t be more proud.”
Last summer, the Magic helped refurbish the computer lab at the Englewood Neighborhood Center. They replaced old computers with new ones and added decorations to the lab room. Over the last several years, the Magic have helped renovate many local community centers and outdoor school basketball courts.
Also on Thursday, Nikola Vucevic was at Florida Hospital for Children to hand out “get well” teddy bears to young patients. Each of these teddy bears included uplifting, hand-written notes from Magic fans giving the pediatric patients well wishes.
“It’s awesome to be here and spend some time,” Vucevic said. “I always enjoy doing this. It makes their day. It’s always great to be able to give back to the community.”
Hundreds of teddy bears were parachuted from the rafters at Amway Center during the Magic’s game on March 29 vs. the Nets as part of Florida Hospital for Children Night. Each teddy bear included a note telling fans they could take the stuffed animal home or write an inspiring message on the tag and donate the bear to a patient at Florida Hospital for Children. In addition, One Stop Cooling & Heating donated 200 teddy bears to the hospital.
Earlier this week, Payton and Dewayne Dedmon surprised students at Rock Lake Elementary School with a Magic FIT Fun Day. They served as coaches for the event’s scrimmage basketball game and then inspired the kids with a special Q&A afterwards.
On Tuesday, Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier helped pack healthy snacks at the Magic’s annual food-packing event. This event benefited Second Harvest’s Hi-Five Kids Pack Program.