Through the Commitment to Service program, the National Basketball Association and the Department of Defense have forged a comprehensive partnership while using the popular sport.
The joint venture supports local communities and hundreds of thousands of active and retired armed forces members, and their families, each year.
The program is based on four pillars: community, health, leadership and transition.
The recent community service activity involved the Celtics' program, Jr. Celtics, which challenges more than 650 children in grades three through five to develop their basketball game through skills, drills and leadership training.
Along with Soldiers and Celtics players as mentors, youth coaches were also on hand from Up2Us, a leader in the sports-based youth-development movement.
Up2Us promotes everything from health to inspiring children to take on roles as leaders, to the importance of teamwork.
According to the Up2Us website, "sports is not 'just a game,' it's one of the most powerful tools to positively transform kids' lives."
Pvt. Jacob Hammons, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, said participating in the event made him feel great.
"I like working with kids, and it's an opportunity to come out and spend time with the Celtics and teach the children different techniques of basketball," Hammons said. "I just mainly thought I would be doing research for the Army (here at Natick), and I never thought I would have an opportunity to do volunteer work such as this."
Spc. Jack Forest, whose hometown is Elmira, New York, said he was excited to see some familiar faces.
"I've spent probably the last 10 years with youth in the community, both in Boston and back in my hometown," Forest said.
Forest said he was motivated when the Jr. Celtics began to file into the gym.
"I think if you come with high energy, the kids will have high energy, and I think it goes vice versa (and) you can feed off the kids -- especially that age group," Forest said. "I think they always bring a certain level of excitement that pumps you up."
Pvt. Chris Baker, a Macon, Georgia, native, said he has always enjoyed doing community service and has worked with children in the past.
"I used to be a mascot for the Cherry Blossom Festival down in Macon," Baker said. "I enjoy volunteering because it gives me a sense of happiness and it also reminds me of the times when I would volunteer in my hometown."
The NBA has always urged players to get involved in community service acts through programs such as NBA Cares, the league's global outreach initiative that addresses many important social issues such as education, youth and family development, and health and wellness.
Through NBA Cares, the league and its teams support a range of programs such as "Hoops for Troops," "NBA Green," and "NBA Fit."
Sam Taub of the Celtics' community relations department said the team always takes part in various community activities.
"Being involved in the community is a foundation of the organization," Taub said. "We're blessed to have the most dedicated, loyal fans in the NBA, and that's why we like to give back to them through programs like this."
Taub said having Soldiers participate in these events has been an amazing addition.
"It's been incredible having Soldiers come out and interact with our players (and) interact with people in our community," Taub said. "They're so dedicated to protecting our country, and they do so much for us, and having the privilege to work alongside them is so valuable.
"They bring so much energy to our programs … more pride and excitement … and we're honored to be involved with the Army and all of the military."
http://www.army.mil/article/142188/Natick_Soldiers_commit_to_serve_during_youth_basketball_program/
By Tazanyia Mouton/USAG-Natick Public Affairs
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