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TD Bank CommUNITY Crew Overview

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Home Opener Hype Presented By TD Bank

Taylor Snow

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BOSTON –  Each November, the NBA community comes together in partnership with the Department of Defense to honor those who have served and continue to serve our country.

The annual initiative known as Hoops for Troops Week unites teams from across the Association through Commitment to Service events, in-arena recognitions and tributes to service members and their families.

TD Bank and the Celtics CommUNITY Crew visited the National Guard Armory Friday evening in Dorchester, Massachusetts for a Commitment to Service volunteer event to assist the Military Friends Foundation with a care package-build.

The mission of the Military Friends Foundation is to assist Guard, Reserve and Families of the Fallen facing financial hardships related to deployment or extended activation. Tireless work of the Foundation makes offering grant programs, community events, referral services and more to families who have faced hardships related to active service possible.

Together, the group, led by Celtics forward Gerald Green and former player Leon Powe, created 500 care packages for local units deployed overseas. Volunteers customized each box with essential food and toiletry items along with a personal note to thank the troops for their service.

“Today we created care packages for local military deployed overseas,” stated Green. “TD Bank and their employees were a big help volunteering to do the little things that go a long way.”

On hand to also help were family members, children and friends of some of the troops receiving the packages.

“I made sure to thank those families and friends for their sacrifice and bravery,” recalled Green. “I was humbled to be here today and to connect with each of them.”

This Hoops for Troops Week, join TD Bank in an effort to support Massachusetts service men and women by stopping by their State Street store between now and Nov. 18, 2016 to make a donation to the Military Friends Foundation.  Visit TDBank.com for more details.

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Green, Creates Care Packages for Units Overseas

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ROXBURY, Mass. –  Throughout the month of June, the Boston Celtics CommUNITY Crew presented by TD Bank worked to fully renovate the local teen center at the Roxbury YMCA.

The Celtics and TD Bank jumpstarted the summer for Roxbury teens Thursday evening, unveiling the refurbished space to them for the first time.

The teen center, which aims to offer a safe space for youth to enjoy, was unrecognizable in its new state, featuring a fresh coat of paint and professional wall graphics that depict Boston’s MBTA lines.

The CommUNITY Crew fully outfitted the room with brand new furniture, a 65-inch Smart TV, JBL headphones, an Xbox One, Google Chromebooks, educational resources, and more. The highlight of the renovation was a new state of the art recording studio equipped with a deejay mixer and professional recording equipment.

To kick off the unveil, the CommUNITY Crew invited teen camp counselors to join in on a financial literacy workshop taught by TD Bank volunteers. Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas and community ambassador and former player Leon Powe stopped by to assist with the course.

“We are super excited to be involved with the Y here today,” said TD Bank Vice President of Commercial Banking William Granchelli, “because it’s a great place for kids to come to grow, to be safe and to be educated beyond just their schools. We’re excited and very proud to be involved in it.”

During the workshop, the youth were taught the primary principles of how to save and properly budget their money.

Thomas provided the teens with a few personal saving tips of his own along the way.

“I grew up in the YMCA, always playing basketball. My first official job was at a YMCA,” reflected Thomas. “To see these kids get these outlets and people to help talk with them about finances is only helping them. I’m just here to solidify that and see the smiles on their faces.”

After the informative lesson, the kids explored the new space with the special guests. They played video games together, gazed over the community pictures on the walls and created music in the studio.

The YMCA campers and staff were then invited into the gymnasium for a spirited pep rally to celebrate the new space. Celtics and TD Bank VIPs answered questions and spoke to the importance of hard work and giving back to the community.

The evening was finally capped off with a energizing dunk show put on by Celtics mascot Lucky.

“It was heartwarming,” said YMCA President and CEO James Morton, reflecting back on the event. “Our job is to put a caring adult in the presence of absolutely every child we tend, and today was a great example of that.”

With summer programming offered by the YMCA set to start the following week, the teens left fully geared up and excited for a fun-filled summer!

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Thomas, CommUNITY Crew Unveil Refurbished Teen Center in Roxbury

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Celtics CommUNITY Crew, presented by TD Bank, globalized its volunteer efforts Friday evening to aid in hunger relief.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 795 million people in the world are chronically malnourished. To that end, poor nutrition causes nearly half of all deaths in children under five each year.

Such staggering statistics drove Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger and assistant coach Walter McCarty to join volunteers from TD Bank and their families Friday to do their part to end hunger.  The group pledged to package more than 10,000 meals alongside relief organization, Stop Hunger Now.

Stop Hunger Now specializes in providing food and life-saving aid for the world’s most vulnerable people and works to end global hunger. The organization, established in 1998, has now has provided more than 225 million meals in 73 countries.

“Growing up in Columbus (Ohio) I had the chance to see area athletes give back to our community,” said Sullinger. “I always knew if I became successful I would use my platform to assist others reach their full potential.”

Through the power of teamwork, the volunteers worked to create well-balanced meals for those in need across the United States and beyond.  To play your part, please visit StopHungerNow.org.

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Sullinger, CommUNITY Crew Provide Hunger Relief

BOSTON – Thursday marked the start of Feeding America’s nationwide campaign known as Hunger Action Month.  Throughout the month of September, hunger relief organizations across America will be mobilizing local communities to take action on the issue of hunger.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is leading the charge as eastern Massachusetts’ Feeding America agency.

On Thursday afternoon, the Celtics CommUNITY Crew partnered up with TD Bank to raise awareness at the Greater Boston Food Bank warehouse. They were joined by C’s rookie R.J. Hunter, alumnus Leon Powe and team mascot Lucky, who volunteered alongside employees from TD Bank to launch the month-long initiative.

Hunger rates are rising annually, according to GBFB reports which reveal that one in nine eastern Massachusetts residents are categorized as being food insecure. In an effort to aid those with limited resources, the GBFB makes an annual commitment to supply nutritious meals to local food relief organizations.

“It is incredibility important as a parent, myself,” said TD Bank Retail Market Manager Jessica Bowers upon hearing about the GBFB’s promise to provide quality foods to families. “The Greater Boston Food Bank is committed to making sure we nourish our community.”

During Thursday’s event, volunteers assisted with the daily operations of the warehouse by sorting through donated grocery items to prepare food for meal distribution. By the day’s conclusion, the group managed to sort through over 4,250 pounds of food, which provided more than 3,450 meals for eastern Massachusetts families.

In his first solo community appearance as a Celtic, Hunter expressed how humbling of an experience it has been to feel support so quickly from fans.

“The Boston feel has a family feel to it,” explained Hunter, “so when I came to support today’s volunteer effort, I didn’t feel like I was solo.  I told myself when I came to Boston I was going to help out in the community and [I] look forward to carrying out that Celtic pride.”

To find out ways in which you can support your local community’s efforts during Hunger Action Month, please visit gbfb.org.

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Hunter, TD Bank Volunteer at Local Food Bank

HANOVER, Mass. – The Boston Celtics and TD Bank are proud to share a longstanding partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) and collaborate on a variety of platforms to offer support to the organization.  This summer, the Celtics CommUNITY Crew, presented by TD Bank, selected SOMA as the beneficiary of a renovation project, which then recommended the Cardinal Cushing Centers in Hanover, Mass. as the recipient.

Cushing is a residential and day program that provides education and workplace programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Over the course of two weeks, its recreation center was transformed into an innovative activity room to be utilized and enjoyed by its students.

During phase one of the project, employees from TD Bank, SOMA and the Celtics volunteered to clear out the space before giving the room a fresh coat of gray paint and designing decorative wall murals and inspirational quote boards.

Professional grade wall graphics were installed during the second phase of the remodel, along with brand new flooring. The room also received brand new furniture, a 60-inch HDTV complete with an Apple TV multimedia receiver, a sensory area, state-of-the-art computer stations, new storage compartments, board games, books and a mini-basketball hoop.  Prior donations of a pool table and air hockey table were given some TLC and were completely refurbished.

On Tuesday, Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk joined executive director of SOMA Mary Beth McMahon, president and CEO of Cushing Jo Ann Simons and Cushing student-athletes to celebrate the opening of the new recreation center.

The morning started off with welcoming remarks from both McMahon and Simons. Both executives thanked the Celtics and TD Bank for their continued support of SOMA and for the time taken to rejuvenate the recreation center.

Following the opening remarks, Cushing student-athlete Gordon captivated the attention of the attendees when he spoke about the important role sports play in his life. Gordon is a powerlifter and is one of more than 75 Cushing athletes who participate in SOMA games each year.

“The Special Olympics has given me the confidence to never give up on my goals,” stated Gordon, “because you might just succeed.  Through sports I’ve learned how to grow from ups and downs, and no matter how hard something might seem to keep going.”

After giving Gordon a well-deserved round of applause for sharing his story, the youth began to explore the space. While some enjoyed participating in an online scavenger hunt or playing various board games, others challenged Olynyk to a game of pool.

The 7-foot center then switched gears, as he began to read B.J. Novak’s imaginative story, “The Book with No Pictures,” in animated fashion to a room full of giggling youngsters.

“I was excited to support the Special Olympics of Massachusetts today at the Cardinal Cushing Centers,” said Olynyk. “It was fun to interact with the athletes and learn about all the hard work they put into their sports.”

At the conclusion of the event, Simons spoke about the significance of now being about to provide students with a state-of-the-art facility.

“Recreation is such an important life-long skill,” said Simons.  “Now our students have a place to safely practice those skills that they can use the rest of their lives in the community.”

To learn how you can support SOMA athletes please visit specialolympicsma.org.

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Olynyk, SOMA Unveil Renovated Rec Center

Boston Celtics

WALTHAM, Mass. – On Tuesday evening, in collaboration with NBA FIT Live Healthy Week, Celtics legend Dana Barros, former player Leon Powe, mascot Lucky and members of the Boston Celtics CommUNITY Crew presented by TD Bank hosted a skills clinic for Special Olympics Massachusetts.

As a proud sponsor of the Special Olympics, TD Bank mobilized volunteers from bank branches across the greater Boston area along with a few representatives from New Hampshire to captain drill stations.

The Special Olympics athletes arrived at the Celtics Practice Facility with much anticipation for the chance to work out on the replica parquet floor, just like a Celtics player.

After lacing up their sneakers and throwing on their very own Celtics practice jersey, the participants were broken up into various groups to run through drill stations.

Drills were aimed to instruct the athletes on new skills while also refining techniques they previously already learned.

“It is great to be volunteering out on the gym floor where I once played on striving for a championship,” reflected Powe.  “Tonight serves as a reminder that being a Celtic is something bigger than basketball.”

The Celtics VIPs then huddled up with the athletes at the bleachers for a brief question-and-answer session that focused on an active lifestyle and proper nutrition.

“Take care of your body,” instructed Powe. “Everything we eat and drink fuels our bodies.”

Adding a few words of motivation, Barros touched on the amount of doubt he overcame to reach the NBA.

“Always believe in yourself,” said Barros, “and don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do something.”

The Celtics VIPs and TD Bank volunteers closed out the evening by sharing a nutritious meal with the participants to capitalize on the three pillars of NBA Fit Week – be active, eat healthy and play together!