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The Orlando Magic and its Affiliates are being recognized for its steadfast commitment to giving people the courage and permission to talk openly and publicly about mental health issues and their belief that one of the most important things the Orlando Magic can do is to provide a platform to equip their fans to end the silence around mental health.
Through the last several years, the organization has partnered with MHACF to host Mental Wellness nights at Orlando Magic games, Orlando Solar Bear games, and Osceola Magic games.
“This partnership has empowered our organization to engage thousands of Central Floridians in a unique and innovative way that not only emphasizes the importance of Mental Wellness but also makes them aware of the free Mental Health services and resources that are available through our organization. The platform that the Magic has provided to us is simply amazing. We cannot thank them enough!” states Marni Stahlman, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.
In addition to Mental Wellness game nights, the Orlando Magic and its Affiliates have collaborated with MHACF to produce mental wellness content for employees, and the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has awarded grant funding to MHACF to support the organization’s Youth and Family Services program.
Chief Metzger began his career at the Orlando Police Department in January 1989 and worked numerous assignments, ultimately retiring with the rank of deputy chief. After serving the Orlando Police Department for 25 years, Chief Metzger was hired by the University of Central Florida Police Department as a deputy chief. In 2018 he was appointed Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police overseeing the UCF Police Department, Emergency Management, Department of Security, and Victim Services.
Chief Metzger is the current president of the Orange/Osceola County Police Chiefs Association, and he is a member of the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association, the Florida Police Chief’s Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Wellness and Sustainability, where he has been assisting with statewide mental health initiatives. He recently served on the Orange County Jail Oversight Commission as the chair of the Recruitment and Retention subcommittee. He serves as a board of directors’ member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Central Florida, Advisory Board for Central Florida Crisis Intervention Team, the UCF Criminal Justice Department Advisory Board, and the Orange County Florida Assertive Community Treatment Team Advisory Committee, as well as numerous university committees.
Because of his youngest son’s struggles with mental illness, Chief Metzger is passionate about issues associated with mental health, and he is a strong advocate of crisis intervention training. He believes that training for law enforcement responding to individuals in crisis saves lives and enhances officer safety. Chief Metzger is a Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention instructor, and he conducts QPR training at all CIT classes in Orange County.Chief Metzger hosted an inaugural Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness Walk on the UCF campus in March.
The Mental Health Association of Central Florida has earned the bronze seal of transparency from GuideStar. To Learn more, click the image below.
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