The 8th Annual Hoop Dreams event was once again a slam dunk as sponsor companies, volunteers, and families joined ABCD, Globe sports writer Bob Ryan, and NBA Coaches Doc Rivers & Brad Stevens in taking over the TD Garden to raise funds for ABCD Youth Service programs.
This year ten teams played ball, tournament style, on the parquet, resulting in a final game between sponsor teams Aetna versus The Verano Group. The action packed game ended with team Aetna victorious – taking home bragging rights and the top trophy.
LA Clippers Coach Doc Rivers congratulated the winning team at the post-game party inside the TD Garden’s private Legends restaurant, “Aetna, you’re the real MVP!”
The event started with an exhibition game between Team ABCD and newcomers to Hoop Dreams, team Live Nation.
Several media personalities were also in attendance both on and off the court. Mike “Sarge” Riley of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Matt “Noontime” Noonan announced the games from the sidelines. Danielle Trotta of NBC Sports Boston emceed the event, while NBC Sports Boston GM Princell Hair played the sidelines with the likes of Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, and Charlie Titus of UMass Boston Athletics. Sherrod Blakey of NBC Sports Boston and DJ Pup Dawg of JAM’N 94.5, two longtime supporters of Hoop Dreams, were also in attendance.
Throughout the night, several ABCD supporters made an appearance including Paradigm Partners CEO Mike Hogan, ABCD Field of Dreams co-chair Lew Eisenberg, Asian American Civic Association Executive and ABCD Board Member Mary Chin.
A highlight of the event – the smiles of young people like ABCD SummerWorks teen Jalen Martinez personally meeting and talking to Coach Doc Rivers and Coach Stevens.
“Every year is better than the last,” said John Drew, ABCD President/CEO. “It’s heartening to work with such dedicated people like Coach Rivers, Coach Stevens, the legendary Bob Ryan, Amy Latimer and fine folks of TD Garden. They continue to show they are dedicated in helping ABCD in its mission to uplift our youth, inspire families, and help people help themselves.”
ABCD would like to thank all of our team sponsors and supporters for making Hoop Dreams possible: Aetna, The Varano Group, Live Nation, Delta Dental, Eaton Vance, Loomis Sayles, MassMutual, NEPC, Proskauer, Vertex, and of course Garden Neighborhood Charities for making this event possible.
We’re already looking forward to next year and it’s never too early to sign up for ABCD’s Hoop Dreams or Field of Dreams! If you or your company is interested in being a part of the Youth Services fundraising action, contact ABCD Project Manager Liz Gillis at (617)348-6244 or email elizabeth.gillis@bostonabcd.org
Check out the media coverage of Hoop Dreams and interviews with the coaches below and pictures from the event on social media via #ABCDHoopDreams!
https://www.nba.com/celtics/video/team/stevens-abcd-090418
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/stevens-everybody-should-be-ready-go-start-camp
http://podbay.fm/show/1049169349/e/1536114979?autostart=1
ABCD Insight 