Boston Celtics and Southwest Airlines Organize a Citywide "ASSISTS Clean-Up Day" in Middle Schools Across Boston

Antoine Walker and Kendrick Perkins surprise students at the Henry Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury, One of 16 schools taking part in Southwest Airlines ASSISTS Clean-Up Day

Boston, MA (April 14, 2005) - Boston Celtics forward Antoine Walker and center Kendrick Perkins spent the afternoon helping students beautify their school as part of Southwest Airlines ASSISTS Clean-Up Day. Walker and Perkins surprised students and were joined by Celtics legend JoJo White as they helped the eighth graders at Henry Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury. The Dearborn Middle School was one of 16 schools to take part in today's citywide ASSISTS Clean-Up Day.

Walker, Perkins, White and Southwest Airlines Marketing Manager Christina Johnson helped students revamp the school's garden by planting flowers, building a fence and cleaning the entire area surrounding the garden.

"It's great that the students at the Dearborn Middle School are taking the time to get involved in their community," said Walker. "ASSISTS is a great program because it encourages children to create projects that help their neighborhood."

"We are proud to partner with the Boston Celtics on the ASSISTS program," said Johnson. "This is the sixth year of our partnership, and each year the children of Boston amaze me with their level of commitment to making their communities better places to live and work."

Today's ASSISTS Clean-Up Day tipped off the sixth annual ASSISTS Community Service Contest, a partnership between the Celtics, Southwest Airlines and the Boston Public Middle Schools designed to encourage students to improve their communities by creating and implementing a service project that meets a community need. The team of students with the most creative and impactful project will win a trip on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore/Washington to tour the D.C. area attractions, accompanied by Celtics players. The D.C. trip culminates in a meeting and visit to the Capitol with Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

The ASSISTS Community Service Contest is open to all eighth-grade students in the Boston Public Middle Schools. Students are encouraged to create and implement a project that meets the needs of a local community and its members and makes a positive impact in the community.

A committee consisting of Celtics players and staff, Southwest Airlines staff, and business and community leaders will judge entries of community service projects. Judging will be based on the students' ability to (1) create an imaginative and unique project; (2) meet the deadline for submitting entries; (3) make a positive impact and meet a real community need; and (4) have fun by helping others.

The second-place team will be rewarded with a pizza party and school visit from one of their favorite Celtics players. Each student on the third-place team will receive an autographed basketball.

Southwest Airlines has a long-standing tradition of committing time and resources to the communities they serve. With the ASSISTS program, Southwest Airlines is able to help Boston's youth discover the importance of giving back to the community.