Orlando Olympian Omari Jones organizes local toy drive

HE’S THE HOMETOWN KID WHO MADE CENTRAL FLORIDA PROUD IN THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES, KNOCKING OUT THE COMPETITION TO EARN A BRONZE MEDAL IN BOXING. AND TONIGHT HE IS HOPING TO KNOCK OUT SOME THINGS ON PARENTS AND SANTA’S LIST. AMARI JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO MARK. YOU ARE HOSTING A TOY DRIVE THIS WEEK. WHY WAS THIS SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT YOU WANTED TO DO? I FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I NEED AND WANT TO GET BACK TO MY COMMUNITY. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN INSTILLED IN ME SINCE I WAS A CHILD. WHEN I WENT TO LAKE JIM ELEMENTARY, MEADOWBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND AT EDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS FEEDING THE HOMELESS AND I WAS DOING SO MANY THINGS, AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I FELT LIKE I HAD TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN MY COMMUNITY. WE JUST SAW THAT VIDEO WHERE YOU WERE GIVING LIKE A BOXING CLINIC TO SOME KIDS AS WELL. YES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK OF BOXING AND THEY DON’T NECESSARILY THINK OF SOMEONE WHO CARES TO GIVE BACK. THEY THINK OF VIOLENCE. THAT’S NOT THE STORY THAT YOU’RE GIVING. NO, I JUST STARTED MY FOUNDATION, THOUGH, MARIE JONES FOUNDATION, AND IT’S WITH DOING ALL OF THAT. I DID MY FIRST SUMMER CAMP, WHICH WAS TEACHING KIDS BOXING, AND NOW I’M DOING MY FIRST TOY DRIVE AT MY CHURCH, NEW CHURCH OF FAITH ON SILVER STAR. TELL ME ABOUT THIS TOY DRIVE. OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU NEED HELP BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GIVE BACK. WHAT ARE YOU ASKING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DO TO HELP YOU AND SUPPORT THIS? YES, THIS IS A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED AND THIS IS MY WAY OF GIVING BACK. YOU CAN GO TO AMARI JONES.COM, OR YOU CAN JUST GO TO MY CHURCH AND JUST GIVE A TOY AND DROP IT OFF. AND TOYS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DECEMBER 20TH FROM 12 P.M. TO 2 P.M. AND WE’RE EXPECTING A BIG TURNOUT AND MAKING THE KIDS HAPPY. AND FAMILIES THAT DON’T HAVE THE CHRISTMAS THAT THEY MAY WANT. SO I’M HERE TO PROVIDE THAT. FULL DISCLOSURE I SAW AMARI AT A PARTY OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WAS ALSO RAISING TOYS FOR KIDS IN THE SAME COMMUNITY. AND THEN LAST YEAR, I SAW YOU AT THE RESCUE MISSION THAT WAS SERVING FOOD ON THANKSGIVING DAY. THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU INSTILLED. YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY ON WHY THIS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT JUST AS A CULTURE FOR YOU ALL. WELL, IT’S I FEEL LIKE I’M IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT. GOING TO THE OLYMPICS NOW, BEING A PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M HOMEGROWN ORLANDO FLORIDA. SO ANY WAY I CAN MAKE AN IMPACT ON MY COMMUNITY, I’M GOING TO DO IT. I FEEL LIKE I’M HERE. BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY, AND THE CITY MADE ME, MY PARENTS, MY COACHES, MENTORS, ALL OF THAT. AND I HAVE A GREAT TEAM. SO THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES. IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND I’M HERE TO KEEP BUILDING THAT VILLAGE IN ORLANDO. LET’S TALK BOXING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE COULDN’T BRING YOU IN AND NOT TALK LIKE THAT IN PARIS. YOU TOOK HOME THE BRONZE. A LOT OF PEOPLE MYSELF WATCHED THAT FIGHT. WE SAW THE ROBBERY THAT HAPPENED. WE DON’T NEED TO GET INTO THAT BECAUSE WE’RE STILL PROUD OF THE BRONZE MEDAL THAT YOU RECEIVED. SINCE THEN, YOU’VE TURNED PRO. YOU’VE HAD FOUR PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS. WHAT’S BEEN THE RESULTS OF THOSE FOUR FIGHTS? I’M CURRENTLY NOW FOUR ZERO, FOUR KNOCKOUTS SIGNED WITH MATCHROOM. I’M VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY MY CAREER IS GOING AND MY NEXT FIGHT WILL BE JANUARY 24TH IN VEGAS. SO YOU’RE FIGHTING IN VEGAS NEXT. BUT LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR, I SHOULD SAY YOU FOUGHT IN ORLANDO A COUPLE OF TIMES. ARE YOU GOING TO BE FIGHTING IN ORLANDO AGAIN SOMETIME NEXT YEAR? DEFINITELY. THAT’S DEFINITELY ON THE SCHEDULE TO BE FIGHTING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. I TOLD HIM I LOVE FIGHTING IN MY HOMETOWN, SO THEY SAY, WE’RE GOING TO BRING YOU BACK AND SELL IT OUT AGAIN. SO I SAID, LET’S DO IT. HOW MUCH IS THAT HOMETOWN SUPPORT HELP YOU WHEN YOU’RE IN THE RING FIGHTING AN OPPONENT? IT’S IT’S EVERYTHING. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER I INSTILLED IN MY CITY, YOU KNOW, BUYING INTO MY COMMUNITY AND THEY’RE GIVING RIGHT BACK TO ME. SO IT JUST SHOWS THE SUPPORT AND LOVE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND ME. AND I’M DOING EVERYTHING TO MAKE THEM PROUD. WELL, YOU ARE MAKING US PROUD. YOU GOT THE TOY DRIVE THIS WEEKEND. WANT TO POP THAT BACK UP? IF ANYBODY NEEDS INFORMATION, THEY CAN GO TO YOUR CHURCH, DROP OFF THOSE TOYS. IF THEY CAN’T MAKE IT IN THAT A LOT OF TIME. YOU SAID YOU GOT A NEW WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ALSO HELP OUT YOUR FOUNDATION. YES. OMARI JONES.COM. WE’LL BE STAYING TUNED ON THE TOY DRIVE THIS WEEKEND. WE’LL ALSO BE STAYING TUNED ON THAT FIGHT IN JANUARY AND HOPEFULLY BACK HERE IN ORLANDO SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, WHERE WE CAN ALL

Local Olympian Omari Jones organized a toy drive to bring Christmas cheer to the youth of Orlando. “I’m homegrown, Orlando, Florida,” Jones said. “Any way I can make an impact on my community, I’m going to do it.”Jones represented Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he brought home the bronze medal in boxing. Through his non-profit, the Omari Jones Foundation, he provides support to the community through boxing camps, mentorship programs and community support efforts, like the toy drive. “I feel like it was something so important because I need and want to give back to my community,” Jones said. “That is something that has been instilled in me since I was a child.”Jones said that while moving through the public school system, he was actively helping his community, including feeding the homeless. He said it was something he felt like he had to be a part of. Through the Omari Jones Foundation, Jones focuses on building up the community that he said raised and made him the person he is. “It takes a village,” Jones said, “and I’m here to keep building that village, Orlando.”The foundation started collecting toys at the New Church of Faith at the beginning of December.Toys will be distributed on Dec. 20.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Local Olympian Omari Jones organized a toy drive to bring Christmas cheer to the youth of Orlando.

“I’m homegrown, Orlando, Florida,” Jones said. “Any way I can make an impact on my community, I’m going to do it.”

Jones represented Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he brought home the bronze medal in boxing.

Through his non-profit, the Omari Jones Foundation, he provides support to the community through boxing camps, mentorship programs and community support efforts, like the toy drive.

“I feel like it was something so important because I need and want to give back to my community,” Jones said. “That is something that has been instilled in me since I was a child.”

Jones said that while moving through the public school system, he was actively helping his community, including feeding the homeless. He said it was something he felt like he had to be a part of.

Through the Omari Jones Foundation, Jones focuses on building up the community that he said raised and made him the person he is.

“It takes a village,” Jones said, “and I’m here to keep building that village, Orlando.”

The foundation started collecting toys at the New Church of Faith at the beginning of December.

Toys will be distributed on Dec. 20.