ORLANDO – As part of the Orlando Magic’s continuing commitment to the Central Florida community, the team has announced it will distribute a total of $1.6 million through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation this season. The first set of grants (summer grant cycle) are being distributed in surprise visits August 18-22 to 18 nonprofit organizations in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties assisting at-risk youth in Central Florida. The 18 organizations will each receive a bronze basketball keepsake and an OMYF novelty check with the amount they were granted at each of the visits with Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw joining a few of the presentations.
“On behalf of the entire DeVos family and the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, we are honored to champion meaningful causes that uplift and empower youth across the Orlando community each year,” said Dan DeVos, chairman of the Orlando Magic and OMYF. “Helping others reach their full potential has been a multigenerational priority for our family and the Magic organization. My parents showed us that everyone has something valuable to contribute, whether it’s time, talent, or treasure. It’s incredibly fulfilling to come alongside so many deserving organizations making a lasting impact for children throughout Central Florida. We truly admire their tireless efforts—they are the real heroes.”
The Magic’s $1.6 million in grants will be distributed through the OMYF in five ways this season – a summer grant cycle, a winter grant cycle, microgrants, the Linda Landman Gonzalez Leadership Grant (LLG) and through professional development for grantees. The second set of grant recipients (winter grant cycle) will be announced in February 2026 through surprise visits as well. The microgrants will distribute a total of $200,000 to smaller, up-and-coming local nonprofits to assist them in growing their organizations. The grantees for the remaining cycles will be announced throughout the season and continue to assist at-risk youth in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Polk, Volusia, and Osceola counties.
For the first time ever, the OMYF will also offer each grantee professional development opportunities. These opportunities provide a way for the OMYF to further invest in its grantee partners, equipping them with the skills and tools to strengthen their organizations, increase sustainability and maximize their impact in Central Florida. The two opportunities offered to each organization include a two-day, in person course – Developing Annual Sustainability hosted by Indiana University, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and an executive public speaking training program called Drop the Mic that will provide tools, resources and coaching for effective communications. The goal is to help build long-term in the OMYF’s nonprofit partners by strengthening organization sustainability, leadership, fundraising and communication skills to help impact and serve more children and families.
The OMYF’s 18 summer grantee organizations, amount granted and program information:
Central Florida Vocal Arts & Opera del Sol | Art Education for All
$25,000
‘Arts Education for All’ addresses inequitable access to meaningful arts education opportunities for vulnerable youth in Orange and Osceola Counties. Despite the known benefits of arts participation, CFVA’s youth face incredible systemic barriers. CFVA partners with the social sector to mitigate obstacles, offering free and accessible programs that ensure youth can engage in enriching arts experiences.
Children’s Home Society of Florida | Shooting for Success: College and Career Readiness Program $50,000
Shooting for Success (SFS) program addresses critical college and career readiness gaps for over 600 economically disadvantaged students at Evans and Jones High Schools. By integrating academic preparation, career exploration, financial guidance, and emotional support, SFS equips students with the tools to transition to post-secondary education and meaningful careers. The SFS program increases students’ awareness of postsecondary opportunities and enhances students targeted and soft skills needed for college and the workforce.
Cornerstone Hospice Foundation | Cornerstone Kids Bereavement Program
$25,000
Cornerstone Kids Bereavement Program offers free grief counseling to children coping with loss, ensuring they receive essential emotional support. Through individual and group counseling, school-based sessions, and partnerships with local health and community organizations, Cornerstone ensures accessible, effective care for children navigating loss.
Early Learning Coalition of Orange County | Talk to Learn: ELCOC’s Language and Literacy Launchpad
$50,000
Talk to Learn: ELCOC’s Language and Literacy Launchpad is an early literacy initiative designed to strengthen school readiness for preschool-aged children in Orange County’s highest-need communities. By developing educator capacity and embedding data-driven literacy strategies, Talk to Learn builds the foundation for long-term academic success, impacting not only current participants but countless future students as teachers carry forward their skills.
Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County | Transition to Kindergarten/Kindergarten Readiness
$25,000
The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County’s Transition to K/Kindergarten Readiness Initiative prepares youth for successful school entry. In response to the higher readiness standard, the Coalition is investing in targeted professional development, instructional coaching, and family engagement to ensure educators and families are equipped to support early literacy.
Education Foundation Osceola County | Bookmark Buddies
$50,000
The Bookmark Buddies Mentoring Program is an evidence-based literacy initiative aimed at improving reading skills among 165 third-grade students in Osceola County who are reading 0.5 to 1.5 years below grade level and are at risk of retention. Each student is paired with a trained community volunteer mentor who meets with them weekly for one hour at their school. Using proven, level-specific reading materials aligned with standardized testing goals, mentors help students strengthen foundational literacy skills while fostering a lifelong love for reading.
Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Inc. | Take Stock in Children – Seminole
$50,000
Take Stock in Children-Seminole (TSIC) is a youth development and mentoring program providing 120 high achieving, low-income students with a structured program that supports healthy growth through school and life. During the 2025-26 school year, TSIC provides students with weekly mentorship, College Success Coaching, and skill building workshops that keep students on track in high school and prepare for college. Students learn financial literacy, time management, SAT/ACT prep, completing their FAFSA, and are invited to multiple college and career experiences.
JFS Orlando | Family Stabilization Program (FSP)
$50,000 (check presentation photo in link at top)*
The Family Stabilization Program is a six-month case management program that uses a holistic approach to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency. FSP provides a range of support services—free of charge and under one roof—addressing all of the client’s needs in a personalized and convenient manner, stabilizing the household, and creating a foundation for future success. Services offered include case management, financial education, individual financial counseling, employability training, food assistance, mental health counseling, and legal guidance.
Junior Achievement of Central Florida | High-Impact High School by Junior Achievement of Cent. Fla.
$50,000 (check presentation photo in link at top)*
‘High-Impact High School’ transforms 2,000-plus students’ educational experience by equipping them for the adult world of higher education and jobs. 3DE delivers experiential, project-based learning across subjects using the business case-study method developed by Harvard Business School. Students acquire skills that serve them in high school, through college, and into careers.
Junior Achievement of the Space Coast | Stock Market and Social Innovation Challenge
$25,000
Through the Stock Market Challenge, Junior Achievement teaches 5,000 high school students the fast-paced world of financial investing, developing critical thinking, teamwork, and decision-making skills while through the Social Innovation Challenge, students apply entrepreneurial thinking to address real-world social problems, competing for scholarships and mentorship opportunities.
Life Concepts, Inc | Improving School Readiness in Children with Developmental Disabilities
$25,000
Quest Kid’s Therapy and Academy programs aim to increase school readiness in children with developmental disabilities by incorporating academic, classroom, and executive functioning goals into Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy. Impacting 55 youth ages 3-10, students will be prepared for incorporation into classrooms, giving them skills they need to learn and thrive.
LIFT Orlando, Inc. | Early Learning Collaborative: Advancing Early Childhood Education in Orlando’s 32805 ZIP Code
$50,000
The Early Learning Collaborative works with local early childhood educators and community partners to address barriers to quality early education in the 32805 ZIP Code. Together, they enhance each provider’s capacity and impact through curriculum and education materials, teacher training, family support, screenings, and more. The Early Learning Collaborative supports 18 early learning providers, over 90 teachers, and families in preparing nearly 600 children to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
New Image Youth Center, Inc. | Bringing Our Good to Your Hood (BG2YH)
$25,000
Bringing Our Good to Your Hood (BG2YH) is a mobile outreach program launched by New Image Youth Center (NIYC) in 2022 to deliver therapeutic youth mental health services directly to underserved Orlando neighborhoods. Using a fully equipped activity bus, BG2YH offers play therapy, art therapy, individual and group counseling, and engaging wellness activities that support emotional development in children and teens.
Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Inc. | Youth Classes: Expanding Arts Access
$35,000 (check presentation photo in link at top)*
Orlando Shakespeare Theater is expanding art access to youth by providing inclusive youth classes for over 300 youth with and without disabilities in Acting with Heart. This expansion will allow underserved youth more opportunities to learn public speaking skills through performing arts throughout the year.
RISE Community Solutions | Pathways to Home
$25,000
Since 2009, Pathways to Home has helped over 1,200 families with children exit homelessness and achieve lasting stability through rapid re-housing and strength[1]based case management—with 93% remaining housed at least five years after program exit. The program prioritizes speed, flexibility, and individualized support to remove barriers to securing and maintaining permanent housing.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Inc. | School Partnerships
$100,000
The School Partnerships program ensures that students from kindergarten through college have access to wholesome foods and are encouraged to build healthy eating habits. Through a stigma-free student-centered approach the School Partnerships program ensures students and families across 76 local schools have access to healthy foods through their school, reducing stress and supporting physical, emotional, and academic success.
SMA Healthcare Foundation, Inc. | BEACH House
$25,000
SMA Healthcare’s BEACH House is a crisis shelter for youth aged 10 – 17 displaying symptoms of mental illness that result in runaway, truancy, homelessness, and ungovernable behaviors. Services include classroom education, assessment of youth and families for crisis mental health counseling, individual and group mental health counseling, and linking to post-discharge community services. BEACH House provides prevention and intervention services for youth and families in crisis, helping to reduce criminal justice involvement while ensuring youth stay engaged with their families and continue their education.
The VERB Kind | The VERB Kind Mentoring Program for Incarcerated/At-Risk Youth Central Florida
$25,000
The VERB Kind is a unique mentoring program serving youth in juvenile detention, offering second chances through one-on-one mentoring, education, and support. The VERB Kind enhances academics with tutoring, GED prep, and workshops, while reducing recidivism through trauma-informed care and resilience training. Youth will be given opportunities for education in industry-recognized certifications and pathways to employment and apprenticeships, preparing them for a successful re[1]entry upon release.
This marks the 18th time the team has distributed at least $1 million to the community with the Magic granting more than $31 million over the past 36 years to local nonprofit community organizations through the OMYF.
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 OMYF.
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 and wellness programs. The OMYF raises community dollars annually through donations, auctions and events such as the OMYF Open Golf Tournament and the Orlando Wine Festival & Auction.
The Orlando Wine Festival and Auction, the signature fundraiser for the OMYF since 2019, will be held February 27 – March 1, 2026. The weekend of events features exclusive vintner dinners on Feb. 27 around Central Florida, an outdoor festival at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando on Feb. 28 with live music, live auction displays, an e-auction, local and celebrity chefs, wineries, and food pavilions, along with Magic players and coaches. Each guest will also receive an invitation to the OMYF Grantee Pregame Reception on March 1, 2026 to honor and celebrate the Magic’s new grantees before the Magic host the Detroit Pistons.
For more information on the OMYF, visit OMYF | Home.
