“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Rizzotti as the featured speaker for this year’s luncheon. With our community hosting NCAA March Madness tournament games at Amway Center in 2023, it will be wonderful to have one of the legends of the sport join us on September 27.”

-Jason Siegel, President & CEO

Greater Orlando Sports Commission

See CWiS story below...

Around The Horn.

• Congratulations to the 2022 class of honorees for this year's Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute! The luncheon is being held on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at UCF's Addition Financial Arena and will include a fireside chat with featured speaker presented by Florida Blue, Jennifer Rizzotti, President of the Connecticut Sun WNBA team. Click here to read more about the 2022 honorees, and click here to purchase a table or individual tickets to the luncheon. Ticket sales close tonight at 10pm!
• Women in Sports Leadership Award
• Sharon Line Clary, AdventHealth
• Katie Stocz Miller, Orlando Magic & WISE Greater Orlando
• Amy Wise, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
• Rising Star Award
• Ali Anderson, Orlando Magic
• WISE Women of Inspiration Award
• Jessica West, Orlando City SC, Orlando Pride & Exploria Stadium
• Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is set to host HBCU Week for the first time beginning next month. HBCU Week’s mission is to encourage high-school aged students to enroll into historically Black colleges and universities.
• Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Tuesday the schedule, rules and entry dates for the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and 2023 High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing seasons. Both circuits include advancement opportunities to compete in the 2023 Toyota Series Championship, and for college anglers, enhanced payouts with a shot to compete against the world’s best pros for a $300,000 top prize at REDCREST 2024.
• A local Boys and Girls Club Clubhouse has been gifted more than 30 laptops after a team member made a half-court shot during a challenge by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neil. Shaq surprised the kids while filming a segment for CBS’s Secret Celebrity Renovation.

• For the third straight season, the Orlando Magic and Florida Blue are partnering up for their “Block Out Hunger” program. For every block the Magic record, Florida Blue will donate 10 meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Magic fans also had a chance to donate to the cause at Florida Blue's presenting night this past season by rounding up their retail and concessions purchases at that game.
• The Orlando Magic on Thursday unveiled a new “Statement Edition” uniform for the upcoming season that features a “modern twist on a Magic classic, stars and pinstripes.” The uniforms are the team’s primary blue color with black pinstripes, and a black star pattern cascades along the sides, paying homage to the uniforms from 1998-2003. The uniform will be worn by the players for the first time during Orlando’s regular-season home-opener against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 22.
• The St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing have grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years. But the buzz has never been louder than it’s been since the announcement of the new Opens EQ (Elite Qualifiers) format in July — and now B.A.S.S. has officially announced where all of the excitement will take place in 2023. On Tuesday, B.A.S.S. unveiled a slate of nine Opens — three each in three divisions — covering eight states from March into late October.
• Tampa Bay Lightning has announced a number of initiatives to celebrate the 30th season of Lightning hockey. The 30th anniversary season is presented by  AdventHealth. The Bolts are coming off three-straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Final – winning the trophy in 2020 and 2021 – and are looking to become the first team to reach the Final in four-consecutive seasons since 1983. The festivities begin Saturday, Oct. 1 as the Lightning will host a season kick-off event presented by Florida Blue at Amalie Arena.

In The News.

• This week, Orlando Business Journal features Central Florida's largest women-owned businesses, ranked by 2021 local gross revenue. This year’s top five listmakers generated more than $116.1 million combined in Central Florida revenue last year, employing more than 700 workers locally and 1,017 companywide.
• President Joe Biden will visit Orlando later this month, the White House said Friday. Biden will travel to Orlando on Sept. 27 for a Democratic National Committee rally.
• Tampa-based Vu Technologies Corp. has opened its largest studio yet. The company opened its 32,000-square-foot virtual production studio in Orlando, following two other locations it opened this year. The new studio has already landed some key projects, including a simulcast for ESPN.
• For the 2022-23 school year, Rollins College has once again been named the No. 1 regional university in the South by U.S. News & World Report, the nation’s preeminent source for consumer advice, rankings, and analysis. To determine the rankings, the organization looked at thousands of schools across the country and evaluated them on 17 measures of quality.
• PureCycle Technologies is a company with a focus on recycling polypropylene plastics, and it’s been looking to start operations at a new facility in Winter Garden. According to the recycling company’s CEO, Dustin Olson, the type of plastic PureCycle processes is one of the most-produced worldwide, being found in car parts, food packaging, construction, film and fiber, among others.
• An Orlando church response team is planning to help Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona. Father Jose Rodriguez from the Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret has already been putting together an “Orlando Response Team.” They are teaming up with organizations and churches in Puerto Rico.

Stay Engaged.

• Downtown gallery CityArts will host a Bridgerton-themed party on Saturday, September 24 at 7pm as part of its annual La Maschera party series – its largest annual fundraiser. The evening will feature artwork themed on locations from the show as well as live music by Violectric, dancing, interactive character entertainment, photo opportunities, specialized cocktails, food, and more.
• Catch comedy legend, actor and former SNL cast member David Spade as he brings his hit stand-up comedy back to Orlando. Best known for movies like Tommy Boy, Black Sheep and The Wrong Missy, Spade's self-deprecating and sarcastic comedy hits the stage for a raucous night of laughs at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on September 23.
• Boxing Out Cancer is an annual fundraiser event, hosted by Dad's Fighting Cancer Inc, to raise money for men battling cancer every day. Amateur and Professional Boxers get in the ring to promote cancer awareness and encourage men to Get Screened early. This event is fun for the whole family at beautiful Downtown Lake Eola!

• You can enjoy a summer evening with the family at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Family Sunset at the Zoo will be held on September 23. The gates will reopen at 5pm. for guests to enjoy exploring the Zoo, and music in the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground until sunset.
• ICON Park is preparing to welcome families to its first annual Oktoberfest   celebration. Starting Sept. 16, the entertainment complex will offer special beer, food and entertainment for families to enjoy.
• The YMCA of Central Florida will be inviting residents to try their facilities free of charge in September as part of a new initiative. Free Fridays will take place every Friday during the month of September and will allow residents to visit any and all YMCA locations in the region for no charge.
• Gatorland is offering a special ticket deal that will get Florida children in free through the end of the month, the theme park announced. Now through Sept. 30, Florida residents will receive half-off single day admissions and one free child admission (ages 3-12) with each paying adult.
• Fairy Doors are back through October 31 at Leu Gardens! The exhibit features twenty, one-of-a-kind, whimsical fairy doors which will inspire your child’s imaginative world of enchanted forests, secret gardens and the magic of fairies. Each door is created by a very special fairy and all you have to do is find these beautiful doors located throughout the 50-acre gardens.
• At the Taste of South Lake & Business Expo, you can enjoy an evening out on November 3, at Clermont’s Waterfront Park, complete with food tasting from more than 30 local restaurants, and business samplings from more than 30 local business leaders. 

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has already begun! Join your favorite Disney Characters for an evening of spirited fun, and get your favorite costume ready! Guests can collect candies and treats while Magic Kingdom park thrills and chills you with eerie entertainment, delightful attractions, and some beloved Disney Characters.
• Universal Orlando has announced the final details for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 31, revealing all the houses, zones, and shows guests can experience at the event, taking place on select nights from September 2 thru October 31, 2022.

• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.
• Universal Orlando's Florida resident specials include discounts on vacation packages as well as a free day at the theme park through December as part of a limited time bargain. Florida residents who snap up a '2-park, 2-day' ticket to Universal between now and Sept. 28 can get a third, free day as part of their purchase.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Valencia Gala, pictured here with wife Sarah Grafton

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Valencia Gala, pictured here with GO Sports Board Member Donna Dyson (Orlando Business Journal), as well as Jeff Hayward (Heart of Florida United Way) and Jay Galbreath

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Michael Kalinich attended the most recent South Lake Chamber meeting, pictured here with GO Sports Board Members Jeff Osterman (Montverde Academy) and Paul Johns (Orlando Health South Lake Hospital)

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Senior VP Brent Nelson visited the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs last week to connect with many of our National Governing Body sports partners 

Fun & Games.

• Pictures: Red Hot Chili Peppers rock Orlando's Camping World Stadium
• Pictures: Orlando City SC celebrates Open Cup win at Orlando's City Hall
• Orlando 2022-23 Arts Season Preview: Concert & Comedy Tours
• Fall Events in Orlando: Food, Festivities & Halloween Fun