Darrell Armstrong will reunite with the Orlando Magic to be honored for his philanthropy in the Central Florida Community.
The long reaching impact of Darrell Armstrong’s passion for generosity began when he was a point guard for the NBA’s Orlando Magic in 1995. Before his NBA career ended in 2003, he earned the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1999. Darrell is the only player in the NBA who has won the Sixth Man Award and Most Improved Player Award in the same season. He also received the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award, which honors a player for his off-the-court efforts to enhance the lives of others.
Surprisingly, Darrell’s rise to NBA stardom was a struggle. After years of playing in the minor leagues and going undrafted, his hard work finally paid off and earned him a chance to play in the NBA with the Orlando Magic. Currently, he is the Assistant Coach in Player Development for the Dallas Mavericks.
Darrell decided the end of his NBA career meant the beginning of a new one. This year marks his 20th anniversary of fundraising in Central Florida. He began a non-profit organization, the Darrell Armstrong Foundation for Premature Babies, which in the last 20 years, has donated more than $1 million dollars to help premature infants.
For Darrell, the mission of his foundation is extremely personal. Two of his children, Maliyah and Darrell Jr., were both born prematurely at AdventHealth for Children. After this painful experience, Darrell decided he wanted to help families with premature infants who couldn’t afford medical care.
The Darrell Armstrong Child Development Centers help children who are born prematurely with developmental, learning and behavioral needs. The Child Development Centers, located at AdventHealth East Orlando and AdventHealth for Children, have helped more than 140,000 patients. In 2001, they sponsored the first pediatric ambulance, designed specifically for kids, which has transported more than 30,000 children.
Darrell’s foundation not only continues to help premature infants, but also impacts the community through youth basketball camps, annual charity weekends and Thanksgiving dinner giveaways in Eatonville, Pine Hills and Parramore. AdventHealth is proud to partner with Darrell Armstrong to provide hope and healing to children and their families in Central Florida. We have been blessed by Darrell and his decades of dedication to helping children who need it most.
On March 8, 2019 AdventHealth and the Orlando Magic will recognize an Orlando icon and leader in the community, Darrell Armstrong.
