Gift Supports College and Career Readiness Among At-Risk Teens
Orlando, Fla. – (March 3, 2017) – The YMCA of Central Florida today announced that it has received a $75,000 grant through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund (OMYF), a McCormick Foundation Fund, in support of YMCA Teen Achievers. The grant will be used to improve college and career readiness among teens living in Orlando’s Holden Heights area and attending Jones High School or Memorial Middle School. Since 1999, YMCA Teen Achievers has provided extra mentoring, academic support, and college and career preparation to nearly 12,000 young people. Fully 90% of Teen Achievers go on to earn college degrees, gain career certifications or join the military. As a cause-driven organization committed to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, the Y of Central Florida offers a range of learning-based programs designed to help children and teens achieve their full potential at every stage of development. “The YMCA of Central Florida is deeply grateful to the Orlando Magic Youth Fund and the McCormick Foundation Fund for this generous grant,” said Shannon Matthews, YMCA Vice President of Youth Development and Education Initiatives. “Through this support, YMCA Teen Achievers will be able to impact the lives of even more young people, many of whom will become the first ones in their families to attend college and attain a successful career.” Over the years, the Orlando Magic and Orlando Magic Youth Fund have invested more than $216,900 in support of the Y’s cause and mission. Through sports clinics, coaching support, volunteerism and special events, the Magic are also the preferred partner of the Y’s Youth Basketball program, which instills values, character and sportsmanship in 10,000 kids per year. The $75,000 grant was announced during a Feb. 9 ceremony at the Amway Center themed around the NBA draft. In all, $1 million was awarded to 17 local nonprofits, bringing the Magic’s total contribution to local nonprofits to $22 million over the past 27 years. During the presentation, Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said that OMYF grants and funding have improved the lives of more than 2 million children. “There are so many great organizations that are doing such great work and over the course of 27 years we’ve contributed, through the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, to more than 500 local organizations,” Martins said. “We need them to prepare our youth for a better future.” About the YMCA of Central Florida The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits, serving more than 415,000 Central Floridians per year through a focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. With a Christian-based mission to improve lives and communities, it operates 22 YMCA Family Centers across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties. And this mission is expanded beyond the four walls of the Y through community-based programs to combat chronic disease, boost children’s after-school safety and learning, and strengthen fragile families. In 2015, this YMCA Association of over 1,800 employees engaged 23,000 donors, volunteers and advocates, who joined together for the common good. For more information, visit ymcacentralflorida.org. About the Orlando Magic Youth Fund The Orlando Magic Youth Fund 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, and health and wellness programs that promote healthy living practices for children and families in low-income communities. For more information, visit www.omyf.org.