BY DAN SAVAGE, OrlandoMagic.com
ORLANDO – You could feel the excitement in the air.
Hundreds of fans were lined up, donning Orlando Magic gear, and vocalizing their support for their team and one of their favorite players, Markelle Fultz.
However, this was not a scene from a Magic game at Amway Center. Instead, it was a special sight at the Florida Blue Center in Winter Park.
On Thursday, Fultz, the Magic, and Florida Blue teamed up to offer fans a special opportunity to meet Orlando’s point guard.
With members from the organization and the 321 Hype Team by his side, Fultz spent over an hour signing autographs, taking photos and chatting with fans.
“I really feel that these people are who make us go and support us each and every day,” said Fultz. “For me to be able to come out and be in the community and let them know, I’m just like them. Even though I play basketball in the NBA, I feel like I’m just a normal person who loves to give back and motivate people because I was once in their shoes. I was once going around and trying to meet and see NBA players and it motivated me. I wasn’t always the best. I had to work to get to where I am, and I just want to show them that I support them, and I appreciate their support.”
Since a trade-deadline deal sent him to Orlando in Feb. 2019, Fultz has felt the love from the Central Florida community.
He’s attempted to reciprocate their support by annually participating in a number of charitable endeavors throughout the region. In fact, the 6-foot-4 guard was named the 2021-22 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award winner for his extensive philanthropic work throughout Central Florida and beyond.
“They’ve accepted me with open arms since I was traded here,” he explained. “It’s always a blessing to come out and see the excitement on the fans’ faces when they’re able to see me and other teammates as well. With everything I’ve been through, it really means a lot to me to be able to come to a place and feel like it’s home. I do consider this place my home. Being able to come here and feel comfortable walking around and people just showing so much love. It’s truly a blessing.”
Fultz believes he, the organization, and the city are a match made in heaven. The Magic’s off-the-court work perfectly align with his desire to give back. And it doesn’t go unnoticed that on an annual basis, the Magic give more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants. The team’s community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, which serves at-risk youth, has distributed more than $28 million to local nonprofit community organizations over the last 33 years.
“Just coming over to Orlando and just seeing how much they do in the community and just how much effort they put in to reach as many as people as they can, it fit into the characteristics of my household and what we stand on,” Fultz has said of the team’s charitable endeavors. “It was pretty easy to come in and try to see where I can help out at, and for them to give the resources to so many different people to reach out to.”
As Fultz shook hands and spoke with fans at the event, he could feel the excitement for the start of the Magic’s season. Both he and forward Jonathan Isaac mentioned how electric Amway Center felt for the team’s preseason opener. That energy has the team stoked for what’s in store when Orlando opens its regular season on Oct. 25 against the Houston Rockets.
“I’m super excited,” Fultz said. “One to make a statement. Go out and just win that game and just show our fans that we love and appreciate them. I know it’s going to be packed. It’s very dope.”
