Even as steaming hot plates of Thanksgiving breakfast flew across tables at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Denise Igruvay’s radiant smile was the warmest thing in the room Thursday morning.
Igruvay, a 53-year-old resident at the shelter, grinned from ear to ear as plates full of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and biscuits and gravy came hand-delivered by former Orlando Magic player Nick Anderson and other team executives.
“If I don’t keep smiling, I’m gonna be depressed, and I don’t want that. There’s something at the end of all this, something bright, something is gonna be there. Keep smiling, be humble,” she said.
The Orlando Magic, in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, served warm breakfasts to Igruvay and almost a hundred others downtown Thursday morning. This year marked the 33rd anniversary of the breakfast, an event dating back to when the team came to Orlando in 1989.
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley sponsored this year’s event, paying for the food and activities outside, which included face painting and balloon art for kids. Mosley and some of the players usually attend, but this year, the team is in Detroit for their Friday game against the Pistons.
Charlie Freeman, the team’s president of business operations, said giving back to the community through events like the Thanksgiving breakfast has become a tradition among the Magic’s staff after more than 30 years.
“If we can make a small difference, it’s huge in this community,” he said.
Brad Butterstein, the president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, said the organization’s relationship with the Magic goes beyond just serving breakfast on Thanksgiving.
Team ambassador Nick Anderson serves at the Orlando Magic 33rd Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida at their downtown campus on Thursday morning. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The team helps financially support the organization, volunteers throughout the year, and has a representative on the coalition’s board, he said.
“A lot of these individuals and families in the crisis of homelessness are not seen, they’re not heard … they’re our neighbors, and we need to do something here to help them out. When the business community, sports teams, and others can come together and help us out here, that’s where we all thrive,” he said.
Igruvay said the Thanksgiving breakfast was special because it helps keep the magic of the holidays for kids despite the struggles of food insecurity and homelessness.
Volunteers serve at the Orlando Magic 33rd Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida at their downtown campus on Thursday morning. Magic executives, ambassadors and volunteers served a Thanksgiving breakfast to hundreds of residents, continuing a tradition that first began in 1992. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
“That’s why they do it every time, every year, because the kids know that there’s still gonna be a Christmas, there’s still gonna be a Thanksgiving, even though you guys are here,” she said.
Raffaele Carino, a 62-year-old shelter resident, fell on hard times when back-to-back medical procedures drained his funds. The shelter has helped him get on his feet and land a job making pizzas downtown.
This Thanksgiving, as volunteers brought the Italian immigrant a hot plate of food, Carino said he’s just thankful to be alive and around other people.
“It’s like home. I’m very happy to be here, I’m gonna enjoy every minute,” he said.
Team general manager Anthony Parker plates up to serve at the Orlando Magic 33rd Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast in partnership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida at their downtown campus on Thursday morning. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)