The newly refurbished facility is part of the Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) initiative, launched by Mayor Dyer, to address the need for older youth in Parramore to have safe, supervised spaces to spend time during out-of-school hours. At the site, teens will now be able to access computers and the internet; work out with a professional trainer in the weight room; mix music using new sound and recording equipment; attend Teen Night Out events; hang out with their friends watching TV, playing cards and video games and benefit from one-on-one mentoring from the City’s Youth Prevention and Intervention Coordinator, the Boys & Girls Club’s Teen Program Coordinator, and Life Skills Coaches from Community Concept Services, Inc.

The site is also home to the “Drop Back In” to school program, which allows youth to take classes to obtain a high school diploma from an Orange County Public Schools.
 

Modeled after Harlem Children’s Zone, Parramore Kidz Zone was launched by Mayor Dyer in 2006 and employs creative outreach to engage a critical mass of Parramore’s children and link them to positive opportunities, including pre-kindergarten education, health care, mentoring, tutoring, and constructive activities when school is out. This past year, PKZ was pleased to announce across-the-board reductions in juvenile crime, teen pregnancy and school failure in the Parramore community over the past 3 years, since PKZ began.

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. Off the court, on an annual basis the Orlando Magic gives more than $2 million to the local community and impacts an estimated 75,000 kids. The Orlando Magic is also the developer of the new downtown Events Center opening in the fall of 2010, and the facility will be operated by the City of Orlando and owned by the Central Florida Community.

ABOUT DR. PHILLIPS CHARITIES:

Dr. Phillips Charities, a combination of The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and Dr. Phillips, Inc., has been supporting the charitable needs of the central Florida community since 1953. The motto of the Dr. Phillips Charities is “to help other help themselves.” Dr. Phillips Charities makes grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on educational programs, children and youth services, social services, cultural programs, and health or rehabilitative programs. The Dr. Phillips Charities has awarded grants in excess of $23 million over the past three years.