Orlando sports teams rally to raise funds for Pulse victims
In the aftermath of Sunday's horrific mass shooting in Orlando, which claimed 49 lives and injured 53 others at a gay nightclub in the downtown area, the city's pro sports teams have banded together in support of the Orlando Untied movement.
On Tuesday, the Orlando Magic announced that the team had joined forces with Orlando City Soccer Club of MLS, the Orlando Pride of the NWSL, the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL and the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League to raise money to help with relief efforts.
The teams are doing so through the sale of T-shirts featuring a rainbow-colored heart logo and the #OrlandoUnited hashtag. The shirts will come in black, purple and blue -- the colors of the teams involved in the effort -- and sell for $22 for adult sizes and $18 for kids sizes, with net proceeds going to the City of Orlando's OneOrlando Fund.
According to the fund's website, donations will help with a wide range of efforts, including nonprofits created to support victims and their families and groups that support the LGBT, Hispanic and other communities. In addition to the T-shirt fundraiser, the Magic also pledged a separate $100,000 donation to the OneOrlando Fund this week.
"Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to those personally affected by the loss of loved ones following this weekend's tragedy of hate in Orlando," Magic CEO Alex Martins said in a statement. "We are proud to join with our fellow professional sports teams to assist those impacted by this tragedy and we will continue to be in contact with the City of Orlando, Red Cross, and our partner agencies such as the Zebra Coalition to provide assistance in our community."
A press release sent out by the Magic stated that the shirts will be available for purchase starting Thursday at the Orlando Magic Team Shop at Amway Center. The shirts will also be available at a pop-up store at Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando this Thursday and Friday, and at the Solar Bears offices in nearby Maitland and in the team's online shop on Friday.
Fans can also buy shirts at a pair of sporting events in the coming weeks: Orlando City's home game against the San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday and the Predators' next home tilt, next Friday against the Tampa Bay Storm.
