BY JOSH COHEN, OrlandoMagic.com
ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic, 9-0 at Kia Center this season, are the only team in the NBA that is still undefeated at home. Even more remarkable is that they haven’t lost in their building since March 29 of last season. That’s 16 straight games – regular season and playoffs combined – that they have left Kia Center with a victory.
The passion and hustle they play with at home is, in many ways, fueled by the energy and enthusiasm of the fans. Players have repeatedly said they can feel that spirit and zeal all around them from pregame warmups to the final buzzer.
Just as the fans do for them, the Magic love nothing more than to return the favor and bring that same spark to the community.
This week is a great example of that, as the Magic have been out and about in the community making this year’s Thanksgiving a special one for many others.
On Thursday morning, in the Magic’s most renowned tradition in their organization, head coach Jamahl Mosley, Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman, Magic Vice President of Shareholder Engagement Ryan DeVos and his wife Michelle, DeVos family members Doug, Maria, Jordan, and Micaela, and other team staff served a special Thanksgiving breakfast to the nearly 500 men, women and children who currently reside at Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and more than 100 unsheltered individuals from the community who may be struggling with food insecurity.
“It’s everything – I think that’s our responsibility,” said Mosley of the importance of giving back to the community. “We talk about the basketball. We talk about the game. But most important as human beings is taking care of those that don’t have (as much). We’ve been blessed in so many ways that off the court it’s a must that you take care of those around you that are less fortunate, to help them understand they are not alone in what they are going through, that they have support, (and) that they have people that want to look out for them and help them find their way.”
For more than three decades, this tradition has allowed the Magic to serve a nutritious breakfast to individuals and families struggling with homelessness who rely on the Coalition for their meals. In doing so, these individuals and families get to experience the joy and celebration of Thanksgiving. The breakfast for the Coalition was made possible this year thanks to the generosity of Mosley.
“I’ve been in the league 35 years. I’ve worked for six different teams and the Orlando Magic is a special organization,” Weltman said. “This to me is one of the most special days of the year through the Magic. It’s our opportunity to participate in giving back, and what makes it really special to me is that we are just a couple blocks away right there. This is truly our community. These are our people. I love that we can be a stone’s throw from our office and come out and really get involved in helping serve the community on a day like today.”
The DeVos family’s philanthropic nature has become magnetic throughout Central Florida. Many organizations partner with them, and the Magic as a whole, to lift the spirits of others and make a positive difference in their lives.
Ryan DeVos has seen first-hand over the years the incredible impact giving back to the community makes and how motivating and inspiring it is for everyone involved.
“It’s amazing. To be able to really remember the reason for the holiday – to give back and support our community that gives us so much,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for all of us.”
The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida is the largest provider of homeless services in Central Florida, helping individuals and families return to stable and permanent housing as quickly as possible. Last year alone, the Coalition served more than 230,000 meals and assisted more than 2,400 individuals in finding permanent housing. Having organizations in the community that care about the well-being of others and have the resources to help, like the Magic, allows the Coalition to better assist those experiencing homelessness.
“It’s amazing. It’s everything,” Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida CEO Allison Krall said of the Magic. “It shows their commitment to this organization. It shows their commitment to people experiencing homelessness – that they would take up their Thanksgiving morning away from their families or in a lot of cases they bring their families with them and start their Thanksgiving once they get home. It’s pretty amazing. It’s a family time for them. It’s an amazing time for our guests.”
Earlier this week, several Magic players volunteered at turkey dinner meal distribution events. On Tuesday, the Wagner brothers, Moe and Franz, were in Winter Park giving out turkey dinner meals to 50 families from the Foundation for Foster Children. Also there to assist was Mosley, assistant coaches Jesse Mermuys and Bret Brielmaier, and their families.
Later that day, Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony, their respective foundations – Platform² Foundation and the 50 Ways Foundation – Mosley, Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw, team staff members, and Florida Blue distributed Thanksgiving meals at the Rosemont Neighborhood Center.
On Wednesday, Jonathan Isaac joined Project Life to distribute Thanksgiving meals and serve food to the community at the J.U.M.P Ministries Global Church.
