The Orlando Magic on Saturday named Markelle Fultz the winner of the 2021-22 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award — an award that honors a player for outstanding community service.

Fultz, a first-time recipient of the award, will receive $25,000 from the DeVos Family Foundations to donate to the charity of his choice. Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jonathan Isaac were among the finalists. Isaac was co-winner with Aaron Gordon for 2018-19.

The award, which has generally been awarded annually since 1995, was presented at the second Orlando Wine Festival and Auction to benefit the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. A panel of representatives based the selection on the player’s last two years of community service.

“Our parents’ legacy lives on through the great work of the entire Magic organization in the Central Florida community,” Magic President Dan DeVos said. “We congratulate Markelle as this year’s winner and look forward to the Magic’s continued commitment to the Orlando community.”

Among Fultz’s work in the community during the 2020-22 seasons were:

• Joining Carter and Chuma Okeke in sponsoring the “Drive By Blessing” event, which donated 300 turkeys, pantries and produce to seniors and families in the community for Thanksgiving last year.
• Sponsoring its annual “Fultzgiving” event in the District of Columbia, which provided 200 turkeys, pantries and products for families and seniors in the community at the Emery Heights Community Center for Thanksgiving 2021.
• Join Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley for a holiday surprise for the kids by purchasing gift cards for 67 Head Start kids (ages 3-5) for the holidays in 2021.
• Sponsor 300 at-risk youth to attend games this season through the Share the Magic program.

The Orlando Wine Festival and Auction, which is Magic’s signature fundraiser for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, debuted in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was canceled in 2020 and 21 and the Community Enrichment Award was not awarded. every year.

Injury Updates

Mosley said Carter (sprained left ankle) and Okeke (bruised left knee) practiced Saturday while Jalen Suggs (bruised right ankle) was out ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Oklahoma Thunder City after the trio missed Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Carter, the Magic’s top scorer since Jan. 1, and Okeke were not on the Saturday afternoon injury record for Sunday. Suggs was listed as questionable.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Prize to [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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