Celtics Serve it Up From Downtown!
Gabe Pruit and Kendrick Perkins serve a hearty meal of pasta and meat sauce to hungry men and women during the 3 o'clock meal service at the Boston Rescue Mission.
The 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics recently took a break from layups and screaming fans to give back to the homeless community. In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Celtics players Kendrick Perkins, Gabe Pruitt, Bill Walker, and J.R. Giddens greeted more than a hundred homeless men and women with warm smiles and a hot meal in the kitchen of the Boston Rescue Mission. Celtics staff, members of the dance team, and players spent the afternoon preparing and dishing out homemade pasta, sauce, salad and garlic bread to hungry families. Mission program members were thrilled at the chance to see NBA sports heroes up close, and the players enjoyed interacting with community members on their way to the playoffs.
Our Own Hero Among Us
Rev. John Samaan is congratulated on the court with Celtics captain Paul Pierce and Indiana Pacer Danny Granger
John Samaan, President of the Boston Rescue Mission, received the prestigious Heroes Among Us award at a special ceremony during the a Boston Celtics game against the Indiana Pacers.
"The Heroes Among Us Award is presented to an individual or individuals who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting contributions to our community." To learn more about the Heroes Among Us program, please visit the Celtics' website at www.nba.com/celtics
Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and Trip Hargrave, longtime Boston Rescue Mission Board of Directors member, were grateful to be in attendance. They were further pleased how the ceremony shined a bright light on the positive efforts being made locally to prevent and end homelessness.
We congratulate John for receiving this wonderful honor in recognition of 40 years of helping the poor, hungry and homeless people in our society.