BOSTON CELTICS COMMUNITY RELATIONS 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT Tea m i n g U p for kids in the community The Boston Celtics are proud to be part of the New England community. We believe that it’s important to make a difference in the community by utilizing the Celtics’ unique position as a way to positively influence children and impact the community beyond our performance on the court. Over the past seven decades, our community relations programs and events have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of children throughout New England. We are committed to extending our championship legacy from the court into the community. Thanks in large part to our corporate sponsors, we are able to leverage their power and resources to increase our collective efforts in the community. Many of our initiatives would not be possible without the generosity of these partners. Our community programs are delivered to schools, community-based organizations, hospitals, recreation centers and community groups in the greater Boston area. Each season we are dedicated to maintaining a strong tradition of positive educational programming and outreach activities that enhance the lives of children and impact the community. On behalf of the Boston Celtics players, staff and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, we thank you and look forward to your continued support. Sincerely, Rich Gotham Tea m i n g U p Team President Shamrock Foundation Overview The mission of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation is to extend the reach of the Celtics championship legacy into our community through programs that directly benefit children in need. To do this, the Foundation applies a team mentality – much like that of the 17-time world champion Celtics - and relies on key partnerships with New England-based non-profit organizations that provide vital services and support to youth. The Foundation currently partners with Berklee City Music Network, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, Children’s Hospital Boston, Citi Performing Arts Center, Horizons for Homeless Children, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Perkins School for the Blind and Positive Coaching Alliance. By providing support and funding to these and other community organizations, the Foundation is able to increase its collective impact in the community and serve thousands of in-need youth every year. Celtics CommUNITY Crew The Celtics CommUNITY Crew in partnership with Arbella and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation aims to impact the community in positive ways. The purpose of the initiative is to provide volunteer opportunities for all members of the Celtics family, to deliver high-impact service to the neediest segments of our community, and to encourage civic engagement from all Celtics stakeholders. This season, service projects ranged from large scale site renovations at schools, community centers and other youth development facilities to smaller scale volunteer opportunities at local homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Since the first CommUNITY Crew event in September of 2011, members have dedicated over 3,000 service hours to the community. If you are interested in getting involved, please email [email protected]. STAY IN SCHOOL The 2011-12 season marked the 21st year of the Stay in School program in Boston’s public middle schools. Drawing on the premise that children are influenced by sports figures, the Stay in School program uses athletes to encourage good school attendance – a key factor in determining future scholastic success. Celtics players visited five middle schools during the academic year and delivered a special assembly program featuring the acronym PRIDE, which stands for perseverance, respect, integrity, decisions and education. The students also received various awards for perfect attendance, writing and artwork. At the end of the school year, over 1,000 students were honored for their academic accomplishments at a celebration at Northeastern University. More than 50,000 Boston students have “It’s important participated in the program since its inception. Stay in School is a to visit schools partnership among the Boston Celtics, Arbella Insurance, The Sports and talk to the Museum of New England and the Boston Public Schools. youth about education. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if I didn’t take school seriously and I hope the students learned how a great education can help them reach their goals.” - AVERY BRADLEY following a middle school assembly The Read To Achieve program presented by KIA strives to have every student in the Boston Public School system reading at their grade level. To that end, the Celtics in partnership with ReadBoston have worked to meet this goal by tracking the amount of time elementary school students read each week and rewarding those who meet the requirement with a special Read To Achieve prize each month. This season students that read at least 20 hours a “Reading is an week received posters, notebooks and bracelets. As an added integral part of everyday life incentive, members of the Celtics team and organization hosted even after you’ve monthly read-aloud events at participating schools to re-emphasize completed your the importance of literacy and education. education. I have to read contracts, bills and playbooks. That’s the one thing I wanted to emphasize to the kids today. Reading is important and it’s great to see youth on the right path at such a young age.” - CHRIS WILCOX following an event with 30 elementary students at the Sports Museum of New England READ TO ACHIEVE “You all are lucky to be healthy with two feet. Some people can’t even walk. Make sure to use all four of your limbs and stay active. Eat the right types of food and enjoy being young. Don’t waste this time in your lives on the couch. Go and hang out with your friends and play a game of basketball, ride a bike or jump rope.” – Rajon Rondo addressing a group of youth at a Fit To Win event F IT TO WIN The “Fit to Win” program presented by Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company, teaches children fun and easy steps for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. By partnering together, the Boston Celtics and Covidien are able to educate children about the importance of staying active and eating well, but in a fun and interactive way. Throughout the season, various Celtics players along with Strength and Conditioning Coach Bryan Doo visited schools and community centers to encourage youth to lead a healthy lifestyle. In the two years since the program started, over 750 children have become health and wellness ambassadors for their schools and community. STEP YOUR GAME UP Step Your Game Up, the Boston Celtics newest community initiative, strives to alter the academic trajectory of the lowest achieving students in Boston Public Schools. The program challenges these students who are struggling with tardiness, absenteeism and failing grades to change their performance via personalized letters and contracts. The students who demonstrate the most improvement are given the opportunity to attend a Celtics game, a party with a player and an end of the year celebration. Top improvers are recognized for their work and presented with gifts at the year-end celebration. 2011-2012 METRICS Of students receiving a “D” or “F” in Math and/or ELA before the start of the program, 68.9% improved to at least a “C-”. Of students that began the program with subpar attendance rates, 74.1% improved their attendance and 48.3% rose above the 90% threshold goal. For the subset of students who signed a contract stating that they would improve both grades and attendance: • 75% improved their attendance rate. • Students from this group starting with a “D” or worse raised their average GPA from 0.24 to 1.43. J r. C e l t i c s During the 2011-12 season, the Jr. Celtics program presented by Chipotle and New England Baptist Hospital expanded its reach among youth in Boston and the surrounding area with the goal of bringing youth from diverse neighborhoods and towns together. Children from local YMCA’s and Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) participating in their club’s basketball leagues received Celtics-branded jerseys. Additionally, the program hosted a Jr. Celtics kickoff tournament, three strength and conditioning clinics, three skills clinics, a Captain’s summit and All-Star ceremony that reached over 500 youth from various YMCA’s and BCYF centers. “If you’re a hard worker and dedicated to achieving your goals, you will be successful in life. Things won’t always be easy. Throughout your life you might face a variety of different obstacles but don’t let anything stop you from being the woman or man that you want to be someday.” - Brandon Bass addressing youth at the kickoff tournament Celtics Celebrating the Holidays For the last four seasons, the Celtics team has hosted a holiday party in Waltham for 60 youth from homeless shelters. Youth interact with the players as they rotate through three stations: playing basketball on the court, making ice cream sundaes in the conference room and playing board games and decorating cookies in the Hall of Fame room. Thanks to generous donations from players and Celtics staff, at the conclusion of the event, Celtics players surprise the kids with gifts such as iPod Touches, iPod docks, winter jackets, Celtics sweatshirts, Reebok gift cards and basketballs. Additionally, for the last 11 years, Celtics personnel have spent time visiting young patients at the Children’s Hospital Boston. These holiday visits have become among the most anticipated events of the season. Heroes Among Us The Heroes Among Us program proudly presented by the Massachusetts State Lottery, with support from WEEI 850AM and Comcast SportsNet is one of the premier community- outreach efforts in the National Basketball Association.