By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
More than 700 students from Flora Ridge Elementary School in Kissimmee carried home backpacks filled with school supplies and healthy snacks Sept. 8 after Orlando Magic players passed out goodie bags.
More than 200 students and parents crowded the school’s media center to catch a glimpse of current Magic forward Ryan Anderson and former players Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw.
“It’s always a great feeling to give back to school and kids in need, to put a smile on a child’s face,” Nick Anderson said. “A healthy mind and a healthy body lead to healthy things.” 
Nick Anderson and Outlaw are both Orlando Magic community ambassadors, former players that do community outreach programs. Ryan Anderson is the new face of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test program.
The school also received a $1,000 check, which principal Debra Neill said would go toward supplies for her students.
“We have a lot of ideas on the table (for the money) to go toward things that will make a difference to our children,” Neill said. “It’s just wonderful to have them giving back to the community and know they care.”

Flora Ridge Principal Debra Neill holds up the $1,000 donation from PepsiCo Beverages Company provided during the Sept. 8 special after-school event. The NBA franchise and soft drink giant teamed up to distribute 750 backpacks full of snacks and school supplies to students at the school.

The school was chosen because 87 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced lunches. The Magic partnered with Pepsi to provide water, cereal and granola bars along with school supplies and a drawstring backpack to children who may not have much food outside of school.
“A lot of these kids go home on the weekends and don’t have nutritional food,” Catherine Patterson, senior manager of Pepsi Bottling Group’s community engagement, said. “We’re a global company but what’s important to us is giving back to the local community.”