ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the Orlando Wine Festival & Auction held on March 2 at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, raised a record of more than $1 million for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF), benefiting at-risk children in Central Florida.
This was the first year the Orlando Wine Festival & Auction raised more than $1 million. The fundraising extravaganza in its fourth year included live and e-auctions, as well as an outdoor festival, featuring live music, local and celebrity chefs, wineries, and food pavilions.
The Magic players and coaches were all in attendance at the Orlando Wine Festival & Auction to help create awareness on the needs in the community and the work the OMYF does each year.
“Having players get involved is really special,” said Magic Chairman Dan DeVos. “The players recognize the needs that are out there. They are aware of their responsibility and their ability to make a difference. I give them a great deal of respect for that.”
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).
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 its signature fundraiser, the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction.
“For us at the Magic, it’s incredibly important that we give back to the community that gives so much to us,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “They support us all season long, and for the 35 years that we’ve been in existence. We feel it’s our responsibility to be a leader in the community, to give back to our community, and to help build our community.”
