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BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation today announced a multi-focus commitment
to addressing racial injustice and social inequities in the Greater Boston area, with an emphasis on combating
issues that have impacted the Black community as a result of the nation’s long-term history of systemic racism.
The Celtics investor group, in conjunction with the Celtics organization, is committing $25 million over the next ten
years, inclusive of $20 million in cash with an additional $5 million in media assets and in-kind value to support
both the NBA’s efforts, as well as local programs focused on six pillars that we have identified in discussions with
community leaders and our players. This collaborative effort will be known as Boston Celtics United for Social
Justice.
The six pillars are:
- Equity in Education
- Economic Opportunity and Empowerment
- Equity in Healthcare
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
- Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges Between Communities
- Voting and Civic Engagement
These focus areas were identified through extensive discussions with members of the Celtics organization, including
players, owners, coaches, and front office staff, as well as a wide variety of leaders in community organizations,
government, academia, and social justice. The implementation of these initiatives will span across all basketball
and business functions of the organization, and will be led by a governing board of Celtics investors, Celtics
legends, and Celtics staff members that will set and manage strategic objectives. The governing board will be
announced in the coming weeks.
“We feel both the urgency of the moment and the weight of the centuries of injustices as we undertake this critically
important work,” said Steve Pagliuca, Celtics Managing Partner & Alternate Governor and Chairman of the Boston
Celtics Shamrock Foundation. “The Boston Celtics have a proud legacy of being on the right side of racial and social
justice, and we are more resolved than ever to take that commitment to another level. Our goal is to do everything
we can to achieve progress on each of the targeted pillars, and we will work tirelessly to make real change.”
“Our goal is to have a direct impact now,” said Celtics forward Jaylen Brown. “We don’t need to pacify the situation
with empty gestures. We need to hold ourselves, the Celtics organization, and the city of Boston accountable.
Monetary commitment is a great first step, but we need to commit to this process by creating a balance of short and
long-term change. The time is now.”
Initiatives will include, but not be limited to:
Equity in Education
- Creating an early education center for low income families
- Launching a Black History curriculum for students
- Assisting high school students with college readiness
Economic Opportunity and Empowerment
- Providing pro-bono services to minority owned businesses
- Launching Chuck Cooper Fellowship
Equity in Healthcare
- Promoting early detection for health conditions that disproportionally impact communities of color
- Developing a mobile health screening initiative
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
- Assisting juvenile offenders in workforce development and academic completion opportunities
- Supporting the societal re-entry for formerly incarcerated parents
Breaking Down Barriers & Building Bridges Across Communities
- Expanding The Playbook Initiative, the team’s bias prevention curriculum
- Implementing discrimination and bias dialogue into the Jr. Celtics’ Youth Basketball curriculum
Voting & Civic Engagement
- Promoting voter registration and the importance of voting for national and local elections
About the Boston Celtics
A charter member of the Basketball Association of America (which evolved into the National
Basketball
Association) since 1946, the Boston Celtics have won a record 17 NBA Championships, including eight (8) in a row
from 1959-1966, winning their first title in 1957 and their most recent in 2008. The Celtics have long stood for
equality, and respect, including hiring the first African American Coach and starting the first all black
starting five. In addition, 35 former Celtics players, management or staff have been inducted into the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In December 2002 the team returned to local ownership for the first time since
1963. For more information on the Celtics, log on to www.celtics.com.