McCarty Named July's Hometown Hero

["David J. Boutte" <dajubo@earthlink.net>]

We are often quick to mention the bad, so here's something  good...  


Celtic forward honored for community outreach activities  
McCarty Named July's Hometown Hero  
NEW YORK, Aug. 15 -- Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty  has been 
named the NBA Hometown Hero of the Month for his  community outreach 
during July. McCarty was presented the  award today 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.   


McCarty has been heroic both on and off the court.  
Fernando McCarty/NBAE Photos   
During the month of July, McCarty hosted six free basketball  clinics 
for more than 700 young boys and girls from Boys and 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 progra m 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. 
McCarty treated each of the students to dinner  at the airport and 
played cards with them until the flight had taken  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. Other  candidates for July 
included Indiana's Jalen Rose, Portland's  Damon Stoudamire, Atlanta's 
Jason Terry and Detroit's Jerry  Stackhouse. The NBA, its teams and 
players are committed  to  programs that improve the quality of life for
all people and has  created and implemented programs that address 
important social  issues, with a special emphasis on reading and on-line
literacy  initiatives for children. The NBA and its 29 teams continue to
make  a difference in North America  through donations to charities and
  the implementation of community outreach initiatives, and through  the
production and airing of public service announcements.