By John Denton

Feb. 9, 2017

ORLANDO – Not long after addressing the many ways that the $100,000 in grant money received on Thursday will help the Zebra Coalition meet the rising demands for services in Orlando’s LGBT community, Board President Jill Ramsier wanted to make one more very important point.

``I wish more people knew what the Orlando Magic did beyond just being a basketball team in the community,’’ Ramsier said. ``Word needs to get out and we’ll do our best to share the word. They have a heart and they’re absolutely amazing.’’

Ramsier’s glowing praise was shared by 17 nonprofit organizations that received grants totaling $1 million from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund on Thursday in a ceremony at the Amway Center. The $1 million distributed on Thursday raised the Magic’s contribution to local nonprofit groups to $22 million over the past 27 years.

``In our 27 years, we’ve impacted more than two million children with the work that these organizations are doing with the different programs that they have conducted or enacted through OMYF funding,’’ Magic CEO Alex Martins said. ``There are so many great organizations that are doing such great work and over the course of 27 years we’ve contributed, through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, to more than 500 local organizations. We need them to prepare our youth for a better future.

``Our mission statement is to be champions on and off the court, and this is the off-the-court part where we have the ability to give back to our community and provide hope for the youth of Central Florida,’’ Martins added. ``It’s really gratifying to us. We don’t do it because we have to; we do it because it’s part of our mission and part of who we are. And it’s really gratifying to see the great work that these organizations are doing throughout the community.’’

In a ceremony constructed to resemble the NBA draft, the 17 local nonprofit organizations walked across the Amway Center parquet floor and were presented an OMYF jersey and a specialty basketball by Magic Chairman Dan DeVos, Magic Vice President of Social Responsibility/OMYF president Linda Landman Gonzalez and Martins. Additionally, the grant honorees will be honored during eight Magic home games over the course of the remainder of the season.

Grant winners for 2017 are: Adult Literacy League ($40,000); Aspire Health Partners - Zebra Coalition ($100,000); Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida ($75,000); Central Florida YMCA ($75,000); Christian Service Center ($20,000); Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida ($50,000); Early Learning Coalition of Orange County ($65,000); ELEVATE Orlando ($60,000); Foundation for Foster Children ($60,000); Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida ($50,000); Hope CommUnity Center ($55,000); IMPOWER ($50,000); Junior Achievement of Central Florida ($100,000); The Nemours Foundation ($50,000);

Orlando Science Center ($50,000); University of Central Florida Foundation ($50,000); Valencia College Foundation ($50,000).

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This marks the ninth time that $1 million has been distributed to local organizations through OMYF. The money is raised through donations, in-game and online auctions, an employee-giving campaign and State of Florida Orlando Magic license tags and events such as the Black Tie and Tennies Gala and the OMYF Open Golf Tournament. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation provides a 50 percent match on the funds raised so that the Magic can make a wide-reaching difference in the community.

``I’ve been at a number of these events through the years and they never get old,’’ said Dan DeVos, son of legendary Magic owner Rich DeVos, who made it a mission from the time that he bought the franchise that it would make a difference in the lives of those in need in Orlando. ``Today really is a great, great day. And what is even greater is how (all the nonprofit organizations) use the funds over the next year to benefit the children of Central Florida.’’

Earl Johnson, the development manager for Zebra Coalition, was thrilled on Thursday that his organization was one of two to receive a $100,000 grant. He said the money will be used to provide services, counseling, housing and programs for youth of Central Florida ages 13-24.

Johnson and Ramsier said demand for services at the Zebra Coalition has increased dramatically since the 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on June 12. Johnson said the Zebra Coalition has seen a 25 percent increase in youth coming to them for counseling and services since the tragic events at the predominantly gay nightclub that rocked Orlando and the nation last June.

Johnson and Ramsier added that 40 percent of all homeless youth ages 18-24 identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. They noted that the Zebra Coalition wouldn’t be able to offer services to the increased number of youths in need without the strong support shown by the Magic.

``The Magic are just so wonderful because they recognize the needs in the community,’’ Ramsier said. ``They pay attention to who are the members of the community and what the needs are. They recognize the diversity that exists in the Orlando market and they’re directly helping us impact youth who need our services.’’

Junior Achievement of Central Florida, the other organization to receive a $100,000 grant, offers kindergarten-12th grade programs that foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. With the help of volunteers, Junior Achievement students develop the skills they need to experience the realities and opportunities in the 21st-century marketplace.

Kathy Panter, president of the Junior Achievement of Central Florida, said her organization worked with and impacted the lives of 99 students last year. Panter shared the success story of Gio Morales, who came to Junior Achievement three years ago as a 10th grader with a middling GPA and left with a college scholarship to Wake Forest University and a summer internship with Google. Panter said those kinds of success stories wouldn’t be possible without the financial backing and support of organizations like the Magic.

``I just want to say thanks to the Orlando Magic,’’ Panter said. ``We wouldn’t be able to reach as many Central Florida youth as we do without the help of the Magic. They’re wonderful.’’