A nice bit of info on a Celtic fans love to hate

["Ravi Singh" <kelticsfan@home.com>]

Narry a mention on this list or the newsgroup regarding the much maligned
Walker and his most generous, caring and compassionate nature off the court.
Why so?  I suspect if it were Pierce that were selected as one of the most
generous athletes in all of sports, there would be a venerable love fest
going on.
____________________________
The Celtics' own Antoine Walker has been selected in The Sporting News'
special issue which honors the most giving athletes in all of sports.

The Celtics are very blessed to have a caring group of players on their
team, but it is team captain Walker who leads the charge in the C's
off-court efforts. When it comes to kids, Antoine definitely has a soft
spot, and he keeps most of his efforts quiet as he does them to give back
and not for the recognition.

Walker started the 8 Foundation in 1997. The mission of The 8 Foundation is
to provide positive life experiences and opportunities for inner-city youth
and to foster stable and loving environments for these young people by
offering support to single parents. The foundation was established to
benefit not only his hometown of Chicago, but also Boston, the community in
which he plays.

"Having been raised by a single mom in a household of six children, I
understand the support needed by both parents and children of inner-city
communities. The Program allows me to provide urban young people with life
skills and values upon which they can grow to become contributing and
compassionate adults," Walker said of the Foundation. The 8 Foundation has
already raised over a quarter of a million dollars to date.

Walker congratulates Anna Ling Pierce, one of this season's Heroes Among Us.
Through the foundation, Antoine funds an AAU basketball team that each
season travels to Las Vegas for the National AAU Tournament for what he says
"provides an opportunity for these kids to be seen by college scouts.
Otherwise, they would go unnoticed."

Antoine pays for all air travel and accommodations for the team. Several
players from his teams have received partial and full scholarships to
universities as a result of this trip to Las Vegas.

Another major component of Antoine's Foundation is two week-long basketball
camps held in Boston and his hometown of Chicago. The camps are completely
free to children ages 7-13 from the inner-cities of both towns.

Unlike some other camps hosted by athletes, these camps are Antoine's pride
and joy. He makes sure each camper is provided with athletic gear, serves
them lunch and offers a wide range of inspirational speakers to teach the
lessons of life and basketball. Antoine is as immersed in the camp as the
campers, and there is never a point in the week where he is not involved and
on the floor.

Antoine has also founded the Real Deal Program, which touches the lives of
over 1,000 Boston Public eighth graders each year. Founded in 1998, this
program rewards middle school students who become involved in their
neighborhoods through innovative community service programs.

In addition, Antoine has started the Dorothy Walker Scholarship Fund in
honor of his late grandmother, who passed away last season. The Fund will
award a scholarship to a student who otherwise would not be able attend
college due to financial hardships.

In addition to his own foundation work, Walker is heavily involved in the
team's outreach initiatives, including Team Up and the Stay In School
program, as well as serving as spokesman for the Celtics' Heroes Among Us
program.