Magic Gaming Hosts “Help From Home” Virtual Fundraiser to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank

ORLANDO – In a world adjusting to life with social distancing, Magic Gaming recently delivered an innovative way for fans to provide a necessary assist from home.

As part of the NBA Together campaign in the continuing effort to assist those most in need during this unprecedented time, Magic Gaming hosted Help from Home, a virtual charity fundraising stream, on Wednesday to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Through a series of live Twitch streams from the Magic Gaming squad, including Brandon “ToXsiK” Raudenbush, Brendan “Reizey” Hill, Daniel “DT” Tlais and Robert “May” May, Magic center Mo Bamba, Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw along with influencers Nick ‘Maniac’ Kershner, Scooter Magruder and Trevor “TmarTn” Martin, they were able to raise nearly $10,000 through virtual donations.

The group participated in a number of Twitch streams across six different channels playing games such as NBA 2K20, Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite. The players and influencers not only participated in the game play, but took questions from fans through the Twitch chat, while promoting the fundraiser.

“We appreciate everyone showing support and being here,” ToXsiK said on the stream. “Stay safe, stay inside, and we’ll all get through this thing together.”

Bamba also rewarded three donors selected at random with Under Armour sneakers during the stream.

“I hope everyone is staying safe and doing what the CDC is saying,” Mo Bamba said recently. “We’ll get through this eventually, but it’s time for everyone to do their part.”

In Central Florida, one in six children face hunger and due to COVID-19 the community faces increased demand for food insecure families. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has already doubled the amount of food leaving its distribution center on a daily basis to stock the shelves at local emergency food pantries across all six counties. Emergency food pantries continue to be the front line in this evolving situation and a convenient way for individuals and families to find the food they need in their neighborhood.

According to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s website, overall, the need for food assistance remains high. Many low-wage workers live paycheck to paycheck and do not have an emergency fund set aside. The best way to help feed families in crisis is through monetary donations or by starting a virtual food drive. The funds raised will help purchase additional food resources in a safe and secure way and distribute it to those most affected by these uncertain times.

The Orlando Magic and its NBA 2K League team, Magic Gaming, are committed to the youth of Central Florida, serving more than 100,000 children annually with a focus on education, housing/homelessness, the arts and health programs focused on preventing childhood obesity.

In addition, the Magic and its teams are focused on joining together to help those in need during the Coronavirus pandemic with Magic players and the teams’ ownership group, the DeVos family, pledging $2 million towards a compensation fund for Orlando Magic, Amway Center, Lakeland Magic and Orlando Solar Bears hourly workers for games and time missed during the COVID-19 suspension of seasons.

Magic players Nikola Vucevic and Bamba have also contributed to the fund. In addition, Magic players including Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, D.J. Augustin and Wes Iwundu have contributed to the needs of local youth, with Isaac and Iwundu working with Project Life to make food donations; Gordon providing funding to Orange County Public School’s Homeless Student Fund; and Augustin donating to Krewe of Red Beans in his hometown of New Orleans, which offers food to frontline healthcare workers.

NBA Together is a global community campaign that supports, engages, educates and inspires youth, families and fans in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The NBA family is committed to contributing and helping raise more than $50 million to support people impacted by the coronavirus and community and healthcare organizations providing vital services around the world, which includes the more than $35 million financial commitment already made by NBA and WNBA teams and players to date.

Fans are still able to contribute to the fundraiser by visiting: https://bit.ly/2woqiWS