ORLANDO (Dateline) – You can bet that nearly 350 new fans of the Orlando Magic will be cheering on the team during playoffs. They are children and adults with autism and other disabilities who got to experience Orlando Magic games this season in unique sensory-friendly corporate suite.
The Orlando Magic partnered with Jonathan’s Landing, a local non-profit whose goal is to create the most comprehensive intentional live and work community for adults with autism, to make these complimentary experiences happen – as part of the organization’s innovative flagship program, Events with Jonathan™. During this past season, the program hosted nearly 350 individuals with autism and other disabilities at both Magic and Orlando Solar Bears games; 20 local organizations serving the disability community were engaged, and eight companies gifted their corporate suites for 25 games.
“We were honored to be part of Events with Jonathan™ this year,” said Salvotore Cataldo, CEO of Construction Unlimited, a corporate suite donor. “Our company loves supporting the community and we were thrilled to open up our corporate suite to have so many individuals attend Orlando Magic games in a special environment where they could really enjoy the experience.”
Events With Jonathan™ is a program created by local tech entrepreneur and Jonathan’s Landing founder Jason Eichenholz and named after his son with autism, Jonathan. After a game the two experienced in a corporate suite, the experience demonstrated how a more intimate, less crowded and specially equipped environment is ideal for those with autism and other disabilities.
The program leverages the generosity of businesses and organizations that gift their corporate suites so that those sensory and logistical barriers can be broken down. This enables individuals with disabilities and their families the opportunity to enjoy a live entertainment experience that they might not otherwise have been able to enjoy. In the suites, sensory kits were provided for those requiring additional support. Food and drinks were donated by Levy Restaurants with special menus to address food sensitivities and dietary restrictions.
Organizations that participated included Arbor House, UCP, UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, OCA, Best Buddies, NonPareil, Quest Kids Academy and more.
“Events With Jonathan™ provided an opportunity for our families to have accessibility in the community while participating in a sensory-friendly environment with their peers and loved ones,” said Silvia Haas, co-founder and CEO of OCA, an organization that provides behavioral, social, recreational and vocational programs for individuals and families with autism or other disabilities. “The memories that were made from this experience will last a lifetime.”
About Jonathan’s Landing Foundation
Jonathan’s Landing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a vision to build the world’s most comprehensive community for adults with autism across the spectrum of needs. Based in Orlando, Florida, the organization is committed to build housing for 500 adults with autism and create 5,000 jobs and meaningful work opportunities.
About the Orlando Magic
Orlando’s NBA franchise since 1989, the Magic’s mission is to be world champions on and off the court, delivering legendary moments every step of the way. Under the DeVos family’s ownership, the Magic have seen great success in a relatively short history, winning seven division championships (1995, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2024) 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 $29 million to local nonprofit community organizations over the last 34 years. The Magic’s other entities include the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, 2021 G League champions; the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, which serves as the affiliate to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning; and Magic Gaming of the NBA 2K League. The Magic play their home games at the award-winning Kia Center – voted by fans no. 1 in the NBA for game experience; honored with TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ Customer Experience Award; named SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year; and awarded the Venue Excellence Award (VEA) by the International Association of Venue Managers. The Magic was also named in the inaugural “Best Places to Work in Sports 2023” awards by the Sports Business Journal, and was the only sports franchise among the four major professional leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) to be honored. For ticket information, visit OrlandoMagic.com or call 407-89-MAGIC.
