SHAYNA: ON GAME DAY THOUSANDS OF FANS CHEER FOR THE CELTICS ON THEIR HOME FLOOR.
BUT ON FLOORS LIKE THIS THOUSANDS OF KIDS ARE IMPACTED BY THE CELTICS EVERY DAY.
>> IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE KIDS.
THEY COME TO A BRAND-NEW COURT LIKE THIS AND THEY FEEL LIKE THE CELTICS REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM PERSONALLY.
SHAYNA: ANOTHER WAY THE CELTICS SHOW THEY CARE IS BY SHOWING UP.
TODAY'S SPECIAL GUEST, CELTICS CENTER AL HORFORD.
>> FOR THE KIDS AND THE PEOPLE TO FEEL YOU, FOR ME TO FEEL THEM AND PLAY WITH THEM, INTERACT WITH THEM, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TAKES EVERYTHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SHAYNA: CELTICS DIRECTOR OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT -- >> I CAN TELL KIDS IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE OR EAT HEALTHY.
WHEN YOU GET A CELTICS PLAYER IN THE BUILDING, THAT MAKES THE MOST IMPACT.
SHAYNA: THAT COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK STARTS AT THE TOP.
A TOPIC WE EXPLORED WITH CELTICS OWNER AND HIS WIFE.
BUT FIRST CONGRATULATIONS WERE IN ORDER.
WAS THAT THE DREAM WEDDING YOU ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT?
>> DREAM GUY.
>> DREAM BRIDE.
SHAYNA: WHAT ISN'T NEW IS THE COMMITMENT TO BOSTON YOUTH.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO BE INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF, AND THE CELTICS ARE BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL.
THIS YEAR WE'LL HELP ALMOST A THOUSAND CHARITIES THROUGH THE SHAMROCK FOUNDATION.
SHAYNA: ONE RELATIONSHIP CLOSE TO AMELIA'S HEART IS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHERE SHE SERVES ON THE BOARD.
>> THE PLAYERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME THERE WITH THE KIDS INSPIRING THEM AND AS MUCH AS WE GIVE, WE GET TEN TIMES BACK.
WHEN A CHILD IS SICK, THE WHOLE FAMILY REALLY IS IMPACTED.
SHAYNA: BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL C.E.O. SANDRA IFFENWICK >> WHEN THE BOSTON CELTICS PLAYERS COMES HERE, IT MAKES AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.
SHAYNA: NOWHERE IS THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLAYER AND PATIENT STRONGER THAN WITH SAM SAMANTHA DUBOIS AND MARCUS SMART.
>> I SHOT HIM WITH MY NERF GUN.
SHAYNA: MARCUS SURPRISED SAMMY WITH A SECOND VISIT WITH COACH BRAD STEVENS.
SHE GOT A SECOND SURPRISE WHEN SHE SAW HIM PLAYING WEARING A BRACELET SHE MADE FOR HIM.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH SMART AT THE ANNUAL SHAMROCK FUNDRAISER WHERE SAMMY WAS ON HER MIND.
>> I COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT HER.
SHAYNA: LAST YEAR, SAMMY PRESENTED SMART WITH THE COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD.
>> IF IT WASN'T FOR MY TALENTS ON THE FLOOR, TO WIN THAT AWARD IS TREMENDOUS.
SHAYNA: THIS YEAR HE PASSED ON THE TORCH TO ANOTHER FAN FAVORITE, ARON BAYNES.
>> MY FAMILY'S PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO.
SHAYNA: GROWING UP IN A RURAL TOWN IN AUSTRALIA, BAYNES NEVER MET ANY OF HIS SPORTS IDOLS, BUT THESE SOUTH BOSTON KIDS WHO GOT THE CHANCE TO WALK UP WITH CELTICS PLAYERS CREATED MEMORIES
THEY WON'T SOON FORGET.
>> I BROKE DOWN AND STARTED CRYING BECAUSE THEY WERE TEARS OF JOY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN PLAYERS UP CLOSE BEFORE.
>> THEY RAISE MONEY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPED US.
>> I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> I WATCH THESE GUYS ALL THE TIME, AND THEY'RE MY INSPIRATION.
SHAYNA: PRICELESS MEMORIES AND AT LEAST ONE PREDICTION.
>> I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WIN NUMBER 18.
SHAYNA: WE'RE DOING IT.
WE HEARD IT RIGHT HERE.
GORDON HAYWARD WILL BE ONE KEY TO BRINGING HOME CELTICS BANNER NUMBER 18.
OFF THE COURT HE'S FOUND ANOTHER CAUSE.
EMPOWERING YOUNG GIRLS.
WHAT IS HER TIME TO PLAY?
>> AN INITIATIVE WITH THE NBA AND WNBA ABOUT GETTING GIRLS ON THE COURT, GETTING THEM INVOLVED AND ACTIVE.
I HAVE TWO GIRLS AND A THIRD ONE ON THE WAY.
SO IT HITS HOME FOR ME.
SHAYNA: WHAT BETTER PARTNER IN THIS PROJECT THAN HAYWARD'S PARTNER IN LIFE, HIS WIFE, ROBIN, WHO POINTS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STARTING YOUNG.
>> IT'S TOUGH TO BE A GIRL AND FIND YOUR OWN CONFIDENCE.
SPORTS IS AN EASY WAY FOR THEM TO DO IT.
ANTHONY: IT'S GREAT.
CELTICS PRESIDENT RICH GOTHAM SAYS THIS COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK BEGINS ON DAY ONE.
SHAYNA: IMMEDIATELY AFTER A NEW PLAYER IS INTRODUCED, THEY'RE SENT TO A COMMUNITY EVENT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT GIVING BACK IS PART OF THEIR JOB.
WHILE IT'S PART OF THEIR JOB, A TO SUPPORT THEY HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO.
ANTHONY: THAT'S GREAT.
THEY DO A LOT OF WORK AS WE JUST SAW A SMALL PAR