FOR THE CELTICS ON THEIR HOME FLOOR, BONN FLOORS LIKE THIS, KIDS ARE AFFECTED EVERY DAY.
>> THEY COME TO A COURT LIKE THIS AND FEEL LIKE THE CELTICS CARE ABOUT THEM PERSONALLY.
>> ANOTHER WAY CELTICS SHOW THEY CARE IS BY SHOWING UP.
TODAY’S SPECIAL GUEST, AL HORFORD.
>> FOR ME TO FEEL THEM AND PLAY WITH THEM, I JUST THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY TAKES EVERYTHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
>> CELTICS DIRECTOR OF YOUTH BASKETBALL >>, SAM.
I CAN BE TELLING KIDS TO EXERCISE OR EAT HEALTHY, BUT WHEN YOU GET A CELTICS PLAYER IN THE BUILDING, THAT MAKES THE MOST IMPACT.
>> THAT COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK STARTS AT THE TOP.
A TOPIC WE EXPLORED WITH PRIMARY CELTICS OWNER AND HIS WIFE.
FIRST, CONGRATULATIONS WERE IN ORDER.
>> THIS IS THE GUY I ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT.
>> DREAM GUY.
>> DREAM BRIDE.
>> SPOKEN LIKE NEWLYWEDS, BUT WHAT IS NOT NEW IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO BOSTON YOUTH.
>> THE CELTICS ARE BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL THIS YEAR.
WE WILL HELP OVER 1000 CHARITIES.
>> ONE RELATIONSHIP PARTICULAR CLUSTER HER HEART IS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE SERVES ON THE BOARD.
>> THE PLAYERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE KIDS.
AS MUCH AS WE GIVE, WE GET 10 TIMES BACK.
WHEN A CHILD IS SICK, THE WHOLE FAMILY IS IMPACTED.
>> BOSTON CHILDREN’S >> HOSPITAL CEO SANDRA FENWICK.
>>WHEN THE CELTICS COME HERE, IT MAKES AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.
>> NOWHERE IS THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLAYER AND PATIENT STRONGER THAN WITH SAMANTHA AND MARCUS SMART.
>> I WAS REALLY NERVOUS TO MEET HIM.
AS SOON AS HE TURNED THE CORNER, I SHOT HIM WITH MY NERVE GUN.
THEN, HE WAS LIKE -- NERF GUN.
THEN HE WAS LIKE, WHERE IS MINE?
>> THE RELATIONSHIP GREW WHEN HE SURPRISED HER WITH A SECOND VISIT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE OWNER.
SHE GOT ANOTHER SURPRISE WHEN SHE SAW HIM PLAYING WITH A BRACELET SHE GAVE HIM.
>> IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL.
HE WORE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE SEASON.
>> CAUGHT UP WITH SMART AT THE ANNUAL SHAMROCK TIP-OFF FUNDRAISER, WHERE SAMMY WAS ON HIS MIND.
>> I COULD BE HERE ALL DAY TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THE WAY SHE FOUGHT AND SUCCEEDED, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
>> LAST YEAR, SAMMY PRESENTED SMART WITH THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD.
>> TO BE ABLE TO WIN THAT AWARD IS TREMENDOUS.
>> THIS YEAR, HE PASSED ON THE TORCH TO ANOTHER CELTICS FAN FAVORITE, ARON BAYNES.
>> MY FAMILY IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, SO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.
>> GROWING UP IN AUSTRALIA, HE NEVER MET ANY OF HIS SPORTS IDOLS.
BUT THESE SOUTH BOSTON KIDS GOT THE CHANCE TO WALK OUT WITH CELTICS PLAYERS, CREATING MEMORIES THEY WON’T SOON FORGET.
>> I BROKE DOWN AND STARTED CRYING TEARS OF JOY, BECAUSE I HAD >> NEVER SEEN PLAYERS UP CLOSE.
THEY RAISE MONEY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPED US.
>> I’M SO THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> I WATCH THESE GUYS ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE MY INSPIRATION.
>> PRICELESS MEMORIES AND AT LEAST ONE PREDICTION.
>> I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
NUMBER 18.
>> WE HEARD THIS, RIGHT HERE.
GORDON HAYWARD WILL BE ONE KEY TO BRINGING HOME CELTICS BANNER NUMBER 18.
OFF THE COURT, HE HAS FOUND ANOTHER CAUSE, EMPOWERING YOUNG GIRLS.
WHAT IS HER TIME TO PLAY?
>> AND INITIATIVE WITH THE WNBA ABOUT GETTING GIRLS INTO BASKETBALL, GETTING THEM ACTIVE.
I HAVE TWO GIRLS AND A THIRD ONE ON THE WY, SO IT HITS HOME FOR ME.
>> AND WHAT BETTER PARTNER THAN HIS PARTNER IN LIFE, HIS WIFE, ROBIN, WHO POINTS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STARTING YOUNG.
>> IS TOUGH TO BE A GIRL, BEING YOUNG AND F