Magic Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Week-Long Volunteerism in Central Florida

The Orlando Magic organization will spend the entire week leading up to MLK Day on Jan. 20 contributing at several volunteer opportunities around Central Florida. Here's how:

Orlando Magic staff, through the Magic Volunteer Program, will honor Dr. King's legacy through volunteerism at 14 total Central Florida non-profits. | Orlando Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic organization, as part of the Magic Volunteer Program (MVP), is spending the entire week leading up to MLK Day on Jan. 20 honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with several volunteer opportunities.

An in-game celebration during the Magic's Jan. 19 home game vs. the Denver Nuggets will cap the week of opportunities, in which the franchise's approx. 250 staff members will be giving back at 14 total Central Florida non-profits over a five-day period.

Here's a look at the non-profits they'll volunteer at and what they'll be doing at each location:

Monday, Jan. 13

• Clean the World | Soap recycling and sorting
• Quest Camp Thunderbird | Camp cleanup, painting and beautification

Tuesday, Jan. 14

• The Sharing Center | Sorting and organization of donations
• Ronald McDonald Houses | Baking, cooking, crafts and cleanups at three different locations
• United Against Poverty | Stocking shelves for grocery program

Wednesday, Jan. 15

• Rescue Outreach Mission | Preparing and serving meals, campus cleanup
• A Gift for Teaching | Warehouse organization

Thursday, Jan. 16

• Habitat for Humanity | Building a home
• Second Harvest | Meal packing
• Boys & Girls Club | Planting a garden and visiting youth

Friday, Jan. 17

• Keep Orlando Beautiful | Park cleanup
• UCP of Central Florida | Painting and landscaping

Sunday's Magic home game versus the Nuggets is MLK Night at the Kia Center, in which several in-game festivities and celebrations are planned.

Before the game, a Magic player will address the crowd. Orlando players will be donning a custom Nike Martin Luther King Kr. Day on-court warmup top, designed in collaboration with the MLK Foundation, Martin Luther King III and the NBPA.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives past Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) in the second half at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's MLK Youth Humanitarians and the Mayor's MLK Commission members will be honored. In addition, the Magic will host the youth and the MLK Commission in a suite for the game. Winners are middle and high school students selected by school officials throughout Orange County for exemplifying Dr. King's ideals.

A special recognition will be made for Magic Diversity Game Changer honoree Elliot Cohen, the lead student advocate with Orlando's My Brother's Keeper Program. Cohen provides targeted mentoring and wraparound services to 25 students and their families at Roberto Clemente Middle School. In the past, he's been honored as:

• Racine Insider News Man of the Year
• NAACP Black Excellence Award winner
• Gateway Technical College Youth Advocate Award winner
• Racine Journal Times Leaders Making Impact Award winner
• Roberto Clemente Service Award for outstanding community involvement and making positive contributions.

Throughout the game, MagicVision, the arena's video board, will feature remembrance videos featuring Magic players recognizing the many accomplishments and contributions of Dr. King.

The Magic are also participating in downtown Orlando's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Saturday, Jan. 18 and the Oviedo MLK Celebration – Community Fun Day in the Park on Monday, Jan. 20 to continue to celebrate Dr. King.

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