By John Denton
Aug. 7, 2014
ORLANDO – For most people from stable homes and solid upbringings it’s difficult to fathom situations so dire that kids feel the need to run away. Sadly, that sort of helplessness does exist in today’s world and Boys Town Central Florida is there to assist those who are the most in need.
Boys Town Central Florida (BTCF) is a beacon of hope for children and families in need of help, changing the way that America cares for them and their families by providing a continuum of care that strengthen body, mind and spirit. BTCF’s services include continuum of child and family services, intervention and assessment services, treatment family homes for adolescents, in-home family services, child and family support services.
Boys Town Central Florida’s abilities to provide those services got a major assist this past fall when it was awarded a $15,000 grant by the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF).
The OMYF-MFF grant money went to Boys Town Central Florida’s Intervention and Assessment Emergency Shelter program. OMYF-MFF funding will support the program’s care for abused, neglected, runaway and delinquent children, ages 10-18. The goal is to remove those being abused from dangerous situations, providing emergency shelter, assessing their needs and beginning to work toward family reunification or other permanent care and housing.
In the last 24 years more than $18 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF-MFF), a McCormick Foundation Fund since 1994, which serves at-risk youth.
This past year alone, the OMYF-MFF awarded $600,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations based throughout Central Florida. The 25 grantees were a nod to the Magic’s year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary last season. The $600,000 in grants given out in January raise the total to $3.8 million awarded over the past four years.
“We really do get to impact youth by helping all of the great work that all of these organizations are doing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “There are hundreds of organizations throughout Central Florida who are doing great work to help at-risk youth and set them on a path for a better life. This is just a small way for us to try and help them do their work. They do all of the work, and for us to be able to distribute all of these funds and expand the number of youth that they serve or add another program, it’s incredibly meaningful to us.”
Here is a closer look at Boys Town Central Florida’s mission and the Magic’s work in the Central Florida community:
2014 GRANT RECIPIENTS FROM OMYF-MFF: Adult Literacy League, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys Town Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Foster Children, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Gift of Swimming, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, Orange County Library System, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola Council on Aging, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, The Center for Drug Free Living-Zebra Coalition, The Salvation Army, University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation.
FEATURED ORGANIZATION: Boys Town Central Florida
BOYS TOWN CENTRAL FLORIDA’S PURPOSE: Boys Town is a beacon of hope for America’s children and families, changing the way America cares for children and families by providing and promoting a continuum of care that strengthen body, mind and spirit.
2014 GRANT MONEY TO BOYS TOWN CENTRAL FLORIDA: $15,000
ORLANDO MAGIC QUOTE: “I’m really proud of what the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has been able to do and the commitment that they have to Central Florida and so many organizations. The Orlando Magic Youth Fund, as part of the McCormick Fund, has been able to donate $18 million to more than 500 nonprofit organizations and have a positive impact on 1 million youth throughout the community. That’s impressive. My family is very dedicated to this organization and to this community and it’s just great to see the response of organizations and the results that they are able to achieve.’’ – Magic Chairman Dan DeVos
To learn more about the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, visit here