Looking like she had just made a game-winning shot for the Orlando Magic, Hope CommUnity Center board Vice President Mary Carroll thrust her arms in the air and pumped her fists in celebration on Thursday.
Seconds later, and before Carroll was presented with an oversized check for $100,000 in grant money through the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF), Carroll wrapped her arms around her own head, blushed because of the excitement of the moment and doubled over in disbelief.
“I was totally surprised. We received $100,000 two years ago, so I thought there was no way that we will ever get that again,” said Carroll, who was still smiling some 20 minutes after receiving the grant money from the OMYF. “We’re just happy to be invited to come here, but to get $100,000 is amazing. When they skipped over Hope (in the alphabetical order), then I got so emotional because I knew what that meant for our organization.”
There were plenty of cheers and tears on Thursday at the Amway Center as the OMYF-MFF, presented 17 Central Florida nonprofit organizations with checks totaling $1,050,000. It is the third consecutive year that the OMYF-MFF has awarded more than $1 million in grant money, bringing the total to more than $17 million handed out over the last 22 years.
“To raise so much money for the children of Central Florida and for organizations, many of which are working with disadvantaged youth in our area, is amazing,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said. “For a third consecutive year we’ve been able to give away $1 million, which we’re incredibly proud of and we’re proud of the work these organizations are doing. For us to be able to give back to the community and help the lives of kids who need our help, it’s so gratifying.”
There were four organizations that received $100,000 in grant money. They are: Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida ($100,000), The Early Learning Coalition ($100,000), Hope CommUnity Center ($100,000) and the Valencia Community College Foundation’s Orange County Take Stock in Children Program ($100,000).
The other 2013 grant recipients are: Adult Literacy League ($30,000), Beta Center ($76,000), Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida ($50,000), Elevate Orlando ($50,000), Florida Senior Programs ($50,000), Foundation for Foster Children ($25,000), Foundation for Orange County Public Schools ($60,000), Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida ($50,000), Hebni Nutrition Consultants ($49,000), Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando ($50,000), Orange County Library System ($60,000), The Gift of Swimming ($25,000) and the University of Central Florida Foundation ($75,000).
By John Denton, OrlandoMagic.com
