They love Waltah

["j.hironaka" <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Hi again:

I don't know if this article (from NBA.COM) was posted earlier while I was 
on vacation. Anyway, it's always nice to read this sort of thing about one 
of our Boston Celtics players.

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McCarty Named NBA Hometown Hero for July
Celtics forward honored for his work in the community

Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty has been named the NBA Hometown Hero 
of the Month for his community outreach during July. McCarty was presented 
with the award on Wednesday during a reading event at the Elm Family Hill 
Center in Roxbury.

As part of ReadBoston's Storymobile and the NBA's Read to Achieve program, 
McCarty read to more than 100 young boys and girls.

During the month of July, McCarty hosted six free basketball clinics for 
more than 700 young boys and girls from Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and other 
youth organizations throughout New England. McCarty used these clinics as 
opportunities to not only teach the children basketball skills, but also 
the values of teamwork and the importance of excelling in school.

McCarty has also been intimately involved with the Celtics' Assists 
program, which was developed by the team in partnership with Southwest 
Airlines and the Boston Public Schools. Serving as the spokesperson for the 
program since it was created, McCarty takes part in many events throughout 
the school year by traveling to various schools to speak to the students 
about the importance of volunteering in their community.

Also during July, McCarty served as a chaperone on the annual Assists field 
trip to Washington D.C., arriving at one school at 5 AM to board a bus to 
the airport with the students. McCarty spent the entire day touring the 
many monuments and museums with the children and took the time to ensure 
they were getting the most out of the experience. When the group returned 
to the airport, McCarty treated each of the students to dinner at the 
airport and played cards with them while waiting for the flight to take off.

"Being involved in community service work has really had a positive impact 
on the lives of my students," said Julie White, a teacher at Grover 
Cleveland Middle School, whose class took the trip with McCarty. "The trip 
to Washington, D.C. right before their graduation was such a positive event 
for my students and Walter showed the students that no matter their 
circumstances, always be yourself and represent your community."

McCarty is involved in every aspect of the Boston Celtics community 
outreach programs. He is heavily involved in the Stay in School program, 
attending assemblies throughout the year, including the final Stay in 
School celebration in May. For the past three years he has hosted the 
Massachusetts Easter Seals Annual Basketball Clinic. This summer, McCarty 
attended Antoine Walker's fundraiser and served as a celebrity guest at the 
12th Annual Hot Dog Safari to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

As the July Hometown Hero, McCarty will receive a $5,000 donation from the 
NBA to the United Negro College Fund.

Each month, all 29 NBA teams nominate a player for the Hometown Hero award, 
which is presented 12 times a year. McCarty is the first Celtics to win the 
honor. Other candidates for July included Indiana's Jalen Rose, Portland's 
Damon Stoudamire, Atlanta's Jason Terry and Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse.

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