Magic’s Howard Helps Teen Moms

This was certainly a first for Dwight Howard – getting kicked as he was giving out an autograph – but there was nothing malicious about the shot the Orlando Magic’s superstar center took.

“I think he’s kind of ticklish,’’ Howard said with a chuckle as he signed the onesie outfit of six-month-old Jayden. “My pen is tickling his ribs.’’

Howard gave plenty of autographs on Thursday and took dozens of pictures with fans big and small at Orlando’s BETA Center. The BETA Center program provides middle school and high school academic training to teen moms throughout the Orange County School System’s Alternative Education Program. The center provides tutoring to teen mothers so they can stay on track to graduation and future educational goals.

Howard, the winner of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award each of the past three years, donated $25,000 to the BETA Center from the DeVos Foundation. The remaining $25,000 from Howard’s 2009 win of the Community Enrichment Award will be donated to the Blessings in a Backpack program.

Howard said on Thursday that BETA Center was a cause near and dear to his heart because he’s seen through the years how teen mothers are sometimes treated. When Howard heard about the program that helps young mothers stay in school, he jumped at the chance to get involved.

“Trying to help these young teens means a lot to me. Anyway I can be of service, I’m happy to do it,’’ Howard said. “I don’t know what it’s like to go through something like this, but I have seen how people have treated teen mothers and I’m just glad that they have a great place to come to like the BETA Center. They get their education and can be around other girls who are pregnant with small kids. It’s a great thing.’’

And it’s certainly a great thing what Howard has done in the Orlando community. He was awarded the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for November because of his work at Florida Hospital. Howard helped to create a state-of-the-art game room designed for teenage patients at Florida Hospital for Children. As part of his “Dwight Howard’s Big Change for Kids’’ program, Howard provided an initial $30,000 to fund the new room, which will feature the latest in videogame technology, movies, board games, and education resources to provide young patients undergoing difficult medical treatment with a place to relax and have fun.

Howard said he made a promise to himself when he was selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Magic that he would do whatever he could to give back to the Orlando community. And Howard saw the $25,000 gift to the BETA Center as a small token for all the support he’s gotten from Magic fans.

“That’s just me, whatever I can do to help anybody that’s what I’m willing to do,’’ Howard said. “I’ve been blessed with everything in life and I don’t need anything. But I can always give back to other people, especially people who really need it.’’

“For me, it’s just about putting a smile on other people’s faces and it makes me happier about myself and where I am in my life doing stuff like this.’’

Howard certainly put a smile on the face of several infant children on Thursday. He took one baby, nicknamed Cupcake, into his massive arms and asked if she wanted to go home with him. He bumped fists with one 3-year-old boy and he taught 2-year-old Masiah Blount how to chant, “Dee-fense! Dee-fense!’’

Christy Blount, Masiah’s 19-year-old mother, was in awe of Howard and said what he was doing for others should be lauded.

“It’s so exciting just getting to meet him,’’ Christy said. “It’s a really great thing he’s doing, helping the girls here at the center. It really means a lot to a lot of people here.’’

By: John Denton-Orlando Magic