Tickets given away to local military personnel and their families; Magic celebrate NBA Cares Hoops for Troops WeekTo celebrate NBA Cares Hoops for Troops Week (Nov. 7-15), the Orlando Magic and Harris Corporation have teamed up for the 14th consecutive season to honor military men, women and their families with Seats for Soldiers Night Wednesday, Nov. 8 when the Magic take on the New York Knicks, tip-off set for 7 p.m.
The event provides game tickets for more than 2,000 active and retired military personnel and their families courtesy of the Magic, Harris Corporation and season ticket holders who donated their seats for the occasion. Seats for Soldiers participating military outfits include Patrick Air Force Base, Orlando Marines, Orlando Army, MacDill Air Force Base and Greater Jacksonville Area USO.
Harris and the Magic are also providing three hospitality suites to the game for Central Florida military personnel.
The Orlando Magic are truly honored to recognize all of the brave men and women who sacrifice so much in service of our great country, said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. Together with Harris Corporation we want to thank those in uniform, our veterans, and their families for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. We want them to know they are our heroes.
At Harris about 15 percent of our employees are veterans. We are proud to be part of Seats for Soldiers and to do our small part to recognize American veterans and their families, said Bob Duffy, Harris senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration. We appreciate the service and sacrifice veterans have made in stepping up to serve our country and protect our freedoms. It's a privilege to partner with the Magic to recognize these heroes each year.
In addition, in honor of the annual Seats for Soldiers Night the Magic and Harris will feature several events, activities, giveaways, entertainment and memorials:
The Magic will hand out Harris cheer cards to the first 7,500 fans at the door
The team will also host a military-themed Fan Fest open to the public (located outside on Church St. starting at 4:30 p.m.) featuring five different military vehicles, an inflatable military relay course, a DJ and food trucks
Volunteer uniformed officers will distribute game programs to fans entering the Disney Atrium
A military-themed performance by the Magic Dancers
A boots memorial will be staged in the On-Demand area on the Terrace Level. The boots will represent the 54 fallen soldiers from Central Florida since Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2014) and will showcase each soldier's name, military branch and year they lost their life in the line of duty
Select military personnel will also receive a Magic and Harris Corporation Challenge Coin as a commemorative gift
To close out the night, the Magic, Harris and Levy Restaurants will host a postgame reception for 50 preselected active and retired military personnel and their families, with food and beverage courtesy of Levy Restaurants and a Magic player meet and greet opportunity
In honor of NBA Cares Hoops for Troops Week, the Magic along with a player, Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw and military personnel will participate in a Commitment to Service project Nov. 7. The groups will team up to build a wheelchair ramp at the home of retired Command Sergeant Major Anibal Albertorio. Through the Department of Defense's Commitment to Service initiative, service members and athletes worked together to serve their communities. The program is built upon the four pillars of community, leadership, transition and health. Hoops for Troops is a year-round initiative led by the NBA, its teams and players in collaboration with the Department of Defense, USO and other military and veteran serving organizations to honor active and retired service men and women and their families leading up to Veterans Day Nov. 11. Throughout Hoops for Troops week, the league and its teams will work side-by-side with the military participating in various service projects across the U.S. to support local communities.
About Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports government and commercial customers in more than 100 countries and has approximately $6 billion in annual revenue. The company is organized into three business segments: Communication Systems, Electronic Systems and Space and Intelligence Systems. Learn more at harris.com.
About the Orlando Magic
Orlandos NBA franchise since 1989, the Magics mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. The Magic have seen great success in a relatively short history, winning five division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010) with seven 50-plus win seasons and capturing the Eastern Conference title in 1995 and 2009. Off the court, on an annual basis, the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community by way of sponsorships of events, donated tickets, autographed merchandise and grants. Orlando Magic community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while a Magic staff-wide initiative provides more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually. In addition, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) which serves at-risk youth, has distributed more than $22 million to local nonprofit community organizations over the last 27 years. The Magic's other entities include the team's newly acquired NBA G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, which begins play in the 2017-18 season in nearby Lakeland, Fla.; the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, which serves as the affiliate to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Marlies of the AHL; an
