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Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins prepares to oversee One Orlando Fund disbursement

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jun 18, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Owners of Pulse night club, first responders, medical personal, volunteers come together to stand Orlando United before the game between the Orlando City SC and San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Owners of Pulse night club, first responders, medical personal, volunteers come together to stand Orlando United before the game between the Orlando City SC and San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The most important thing Orlando Magic CEO may do this year is oversee the disbursement of funds as a member of the One Orlando Fund board.

Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins will help oversee one of the most important seasons in Orlando Magic history. The most important role he will play this year though will not take place at the Amway Center or with the Magic.

Martins is the chair of the One Orlando Fund, the city-created organization to receive and oversee the disbursement of funds donated in the wake of June’s shooting at Pulse Night Club.

It is an experience Martins said has truly humbled him.

Monday was the deadline to file a claim with the One Orlando Fund. So now the fund undertakes its most important and difficult work, disbursing the more than $23 million raised to support victims of the shooting.

Martins spoke to Matthew Peddie of Intersection on WMFE about the disbursement procedure and the status of the One Orlando Fund.

"“First and foremost, $25 million is a large amount of money,” Martins said. “Let’s start by saying that. In that respect, I have been gratified and overwhelmed by the way our community responded. The flip side of that is when there is loss of life and when there are medical bills, that may go on for many many years, $25 million does not spread itself very far.On one hand, I am incredibly gratified. I was overwhelmed and heartened to see our community step forth in such a way. On the flip side of it, it is never enough when it comes to a tragedy like this.”"

The Fund had to narrow down who could make a claim and how to disburse the funds in an equitable way. That was a part of a long town hall process and discussion between the board and the city. Several categories had to be pushed to the wayside.

The focus would turn to the victims with the vast, but still limited funds they have to disburse.

One Orlando Fund spoke directly to victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting to ensure they received a claim for their losses and hospital stay. They spoke to families of the victims as well to make some type of payment for a claim for loss of life. They also seek to disburse funds to family affected by the shooting and those who were survivors of the shooting.

The fund has consulted with the LGBTQ and Hispanic community leaders in Orlando to help with the disbursement. Business leaders throughout the city have sat on the board to help with this important cause.

Martins said the intent is to begin distributing checks to approved claims by the end of September.

There is good news on this front. The final victim of the shooting remaining in the hospital was released earlier this month. And Orlando Regional Medical Center, where many of the victims were sent following the shooting, announced it would not charge the victims for their stay at the hospital. Other hospitals in the area followed suit.

There has clearly been a lot of thought and effort put into the disbursement of these funds. There is still work to do as the fund tries to give whatever solace it can to those affected in that tragic evening.

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The One Orlando Fund is still accepting donations until Sept. 26. You can learn more about the One Orlando Fund and make a donation here.