ORLANDO – Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony was named winner of the 2023-24 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award (CEA) Saturday night at the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction benefiting the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) held at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. This is the first time Anthony has won the award. Finalists included Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz.
Since 1995, the DeVos family has honored a player who has dedicated his efforts off the court for the purpose of enhancing other’s lives (due to the pandemic, the CEA was not awarded for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons). A panel of representatives selects the player and based this year’s selection on the last year of the player’s community work. In addition to receiving the award, Anthony will be granted $20,000 from the DeVos Family Foundations for him to donate to the charity of his choice.
“The legacy of our parents’ lives on through the great work in the Central Florida community by the entire Magic organization,” said Orlando Magic Chairman Dan DeVos. “We congratulate Cole as this year’s winner and look forward to the Magic’s continued commitment to the Orlando community.”
Anthony has consistently volunteered his time off the court and to the Central Florida community supporting the Magic’s mission to be World Champions on and off the court delivering legendary moments every step of the way. In addition to supporting the Magic’s initiatives, Anthony has his own foundation, 50Ways Foundation, and also assists the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and the NBA in their community goals as well.
“The Orlando Magic’s commitment to the community starts at the top with our ownership group, the DeVos family,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins. “It is through the family’s leadership and their core value of giving back that the foundation of our entire team – staff, coaches and players – is built. We are incredibly proud of all of our players’ off-the-court efforts and want to congratulate Cole on the impact that he has made in the Central Florida community and beyond.”
Highlights of Anthony’s community involvement/recognition for the 2023-24 season:
- Cole’s All-Stars Share the Magic Program
Provides tickets for underprivileged youth to attend Orlando Magic games
- UCF Support
Fundraising basketball camp for UCF’s NIL Collective; Supporting recruiting to UCF Athletics
- CrossTown 119 School Visit
Visited the inner-city school in Parramore and sponsored lunch for the entire school year
- Ivey Lane Community Center
Purchased Thanksgiving groceries for 50 families who attend the community center
- A Cole Christmas
Hosted a holiday party and distributed gifts at the James R. Smith Neighborhood Center
- Fourth Annual CyiSoon & Friends Back to School Drive in New York City
NYC-based back to school drive with the CyiSoon apparel company and Cole’s foundation
- The Playbook High School Basketball Event in New York City
Provided guidance on the next level of basketball and financial coaching
- 50 Ways – Game Up Scholarship Fund in New York City
Fund for youth basketball players to enroll in basketball programs in tri-state area
Past winners of the award include Nick Anderson (1995-96), Penny Hardaway (1996-97), Darrell Armstrong (1997-98, 1999-00), Grant Hill (2000-01), Monty Williams (2001-2002), Tracy McGrady (2002-03), Pat Garrity (2003-04), Bo Outlaw (1998-99, 2005-06, 2006-07), Dwight Howard (2004-05; 2007-08; 2008-09; 2009-10; 2010-11; 2011-12, co-winner w/Redick), J.J. Redick (2011-12, co-winner with Howard), Jameer Nelson (2012-13), Tobias Harris (2013-14; 2014-15, co-winner with Oladipo), Victor Oladipo (2014-15, co-winner with Harris; 2015-16), Elfrid Payton (2016-17), Arron Afflalo (2017-18), Aaron Gordon (2018-19, co-winner with Isaac), Jonathan Isaac (2018-19, co-winner with Gordon), Markelle Fultz (2021-22), Wendell Carter Jr. (2022-23), Cole Anthony (2023-24).
In August 2023, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation announced it will distribute grants totaling $1 million in three ways – a summer grant cycle, a winter grant cycle and microgrants. Thus far, the summer grant cycle and the first set of microgrants have been announced (microgrants are distributed quarterly). This marks the 16th time the OMYF has distributed $1 million to the Central Florida community since OMYF’s inception in 1990.
The Orlando Magic and the DeVos family are committed to making a difference in Central Florida. Each year, the Magic gives more than $2 million to Central Florida by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants. At the heart of the Magic’s charitable efforts is the work done by the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
The OMYF is committed to helping children in Central Florida realize their full potential, especially those most at-risk, by supporting nonprofit organizations offering youth-based programs in the areas of education, housing/homelessness, the arts and health programs focused on preventing childhood obesity.
Over the last 34 years more than $29 million has been distributed to local nonprofit community organizations through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. The OMYF raises community dollars annually through donations, auctions and events such as the OMYF Open Golf Tournament and the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction.
The Magic’s signature fundraiser for the OMYF, the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction debuted in 2019, features a wine and food festival, live and e-auctions and will culminate with an Orlando Magic game tomorrow (March 3 vs. Detroit Pistons). The weekend of fundraising events also included exclusive vintner dinners on March 1 with the outdoor festival on March 2 featuring live music, live auction displays, local and celebrity chefs, wineries, and food pavilions, along with Magic players, coaches and legends.
For more information on the OMYF, please visit www.omyf.org.
