Florida Citrus Sports Partners With Extra Yard For Teachers and Fun Spot America to Donate $100,000 Toward Local Classroom Projects
Investment will support schools throughout Central Florida
ORLANDO – Florida Citrus Sports, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Fun Spot America are teaming up with DonorsChoose.org to invest $100,000 to support classroom projects in Central Florida, Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan announced Tuesday.
The combined investment includes a $25,000 commitment from Florida Citrus Sports, $25,000 from Extra Yard for Teachers — the primary cause platform of the CFP Foundation — and a matching $50,000 donation from Fun Spot in conjunction with its Golden Rule Day promotion.
"Florida Citrus Sports has been committed to improving the lives of children for nearly 75 years, and this investment will play a critical role in the lives of area students and teachers who need it most," Hogan said. "We are fortunate to have valued partners in the CFP Foundation and Fun Spot America who support the DonorsChoose.org initiative, and we look forward to seeing the exciting ways these contributions are utilized in classrooms throughout Central Florida in the months and years to come."
Over the past several years, Florida Citrus Sports has worked closely with LIFT Orlando and other partners to leverage the CFP Foundation’s significant donations into an investment of more than $600,000 of vital support to teachers and school administrators in the West Lakes community, located in the shadow of Camping World Stadium.
In addition to the latest $100,000 donation alongside Fun Spot and Extra Yard for Teachers, Florida Citrus Sports will also recognize nine area teachers on the field during the first quarter of Saturday’s Camping World Kickoff between Florida and Miami.
Members of the public may also support early childhood education by contributing toward local classroom projects by visiting DonorsChoose.org/FloridaCitrusSports.
“We are thrilled to partner with these amazing organizations to provide Orlando teachers with the resources they need to educate their students,” said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. “This is a great example of what can happen when we come together to leverage college football to benefit education.”
Golden Rule Day encourages others to treat people the way you want to be treated, and as part of that celebration, Fun Spot will offer guests the opportunity to purchase up to 10 single-day tickets at a cost of $25 each, with $5 from each ticket benefitting schools in Orange and Osceola County.
The discounted rate will be available online at Fun-Spot.com from midnight until Noon ET on Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 9 a.m. until Noon ET on the same date at either Central Florida Fun Spot America location.
Fans in attendance at the Camping World Kickoff will also be provided a code that will allow them to access Golden Rule Day pricing through Sunday, Aug. 25. Tickets purchased as part of the offer are valid until June 1, 2020.
"I am so excited about this event, as it reminds me of growing up in my parents' house,” Fun Spot America CEO and owner John Arie, Jr. said. “When you practice the Golden Rule, everything else falls into place, and I am so excited to go public with this mission. Giving back to the community is what warms our hearts, and we are setting the example through our actions, not just our words."
About Florida Citrus Sports
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Camping World Kickoff, the Citrus Bowl, the Camping World Bowl, the Orlando Citrus Parade and the Florida Blue Florida Classic. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
About Fun Spot America
Fun Spot America debuted on Christmas Eve 1997 as a small five-acre park with go karts, rides and an arcade. Twenty years later, Fun Spot America has grown to include three different locations and over 100 total acres of family fun. The flagship Orlando location includes the city's first wooden roller coaster — one of more than 20 different rides — and the Kissimmee park has more than 20 attractions, including world’s largest skycoaster and Orlando’s only inverted wooden coaster. The Atlanta location is home to the Samson go-kart track, which is over 40 feet tall and 1,800 feet long — plus a brand new ferris wheel, indoor bumper cars and more fun for the whole family. For more information on Fun Spot America, visit Fun-Spot.com.
Media Contact
Sam Gardner (Florida Citrus Sports), sgardner@fcsports.com
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