ORLANDO | The LGBT+ Center Orlando announced a collaboration with Orlando City Foundation, who donated funds to help the Center expand its current building with a catering area, June 15.
The Center’s plans to expand, according to Executive Director George Wallace, will include a renovated second floor and an extended section to the building where HIV/AIDS testing will take place.
“The Center reached out to Orlando City Foundation for naming rights. As we do more renovations we’re looking at selling naming rights and they agreed,” says Wallace. “I think it’s a great partnership and collaboration. They’re very pro-LGBT, so while we don’t work with them on a regular, I think that there is always going to be opportunities [in the future].”
Orlando City Foundation also used the ceremony in a film they are producing with Orange Plane Creative, a creative firm that helps organizations develop marketing campaigns.
Orange Plane Creative owner and partner Jordan Eichenblatt worked with Commissioner Patty Sheehan, founder of Orlando City and VP of Community Relations Kay Rawlins, Orlando City’s Defensive Midfielder Oriol Rosell, Orlando Pride Defender Alanna Kennedy and Midfielder Emily van Egmond in a marketing campaign for Orlando City Foundation.
“The concept of the video is that our main character is actually a jar of change,” explains Eichenblatt. “You’re going to see that jar of change have many different faces, from being a soccer ball, a plaque, a jersey to seeds for your garden. What that represents is where your money is going.”
Sheehan made an appearance at the ceremony as well and has a close relationship with Orlando City. “[Orlando City has] been tremendous supporters of the community,” says Sheehan. “Just the fact that this sports franchise has been so supportive of the LGBT community, I really appreciate them so much and it is such a generous donation they’ve given to the Center today.”
One benefit to creating this film at this ceremony is getting Orlando City Foundation’s story out there, according to Rawlins. “Every non-profit wants to get their story out there in very different ways,” says Rawlins. “I think a lot of people know the club really well – the Pride and the City – but they don’t necessarily know a lot about the foundation, and so this is something that’s really going to help put us on the map a little bit more, get people excited about some of the things we do.”
Orlando’s soccer clubs — Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride — are both showing “Pride In Our City” during LGBTQ Pride Month this June by hosting Pride Night games. The Orlando Pride held its Pride Night June 16 and Orlando City will have its Pride Night June 23.
“Pride In Our City” merchandise is also available with a t-shirt and scarf, both depicting 49 rainbow-colored dots representing the Pulse memorial section of the soccer stadium, available at at mlsstore.com/orlando-city-sc.
Photos by Jeremy Williams.
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