Even the most "ordinary" day at the gym can often turn into an extraordinary day at Curtis Hall Community Center in the Jamacia Plain neighborhood of Boston. Those extraordinary days can include running drills with your teammates as the setting sun pours onto the floor from the large windows or attending a clinic with Al Horford, the renowned center for the Boston Celtics.
Each day, six days a week, people of all ages use the refurbished basketball court. The renovation of the gym in the 113-year-old building was done with the financial support of the Boston Celtics and TD Bank. It was completed nearly two years ago, and it has made a world of difference.
Hannah Elbeik, who grew in Jamaica Plain, has been coming to the center since she was seven. She has been a youth worker at the center for the past two years, and the renovations have a special meaning for her.
"The environment at Curtis Hall has always been the same since I first started coming here – everyone who comes through the doors is loved, accepted and appreciated," she said. "The only thing that has gotten better is the renovations. It added a whole other layer of appreciation. TD Bank and the Celtics showed us love – the new hoops, the cleaner and shinier floor – they showed the kids we care about how they are treated."
Jennie Platt, Chief Marketing Officer, TD Bank, noted the special relationships between the bank and Celtics and how coming together to help communities has incredible benefits for everyone.
"Community is in our DNA at TD. It's also in the Celtics' DNA," she explained. "Community centers provide critical services like education and childcare, fitness classes, special events, and other opportunities for the community to come together. At TD, we know that good things happen when people are included and empowered to participate in their communities. Supporting community centers helps improve access for folks to do just that. We were honored to work with the Boston Celtics to renovate the gym at Curtis Hall and help improve access to opportunities for members of the Jamaica Plain community."
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A very special day with the Boston Celtics and TD Bank
The gym was the site of a particularly special day on February 27 when the Boston Celtics and TD Bank hosted a community event at the refurbished gym in Curtis Hall. Over 60 girls associated with You Got It Girl, Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) Curtis Hall, and Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF), were invited to attend the event.
The event started with a panel discussion on Women's History Month and the power of women's sports featuring Jennie, Al Horford of the Celtics, Ashley Battle, Celtics Scout and Assistant General Manager of the Maine Celtics, and Kayla Burton, NBC Sports Boston host.
"Sports help build critical life and leadership skills," said Jennie. "They teach you to work hard towards a goal, how to deal with loss, and how to work together as a team. They help build confidence, discipline, resiliency, and communication skills. By supporting opportunities for children to participate in sports, we are helping them build critical skills, which will carry over into their careers, relationships, and lives overall."
Afterwards, the participants attended a 30-minute basketball clinic with the panelists.
It was a rare day off in the midst of a grueling NBA schedule for Al, who said during a meeting with media afterwards that he felt it was vital for him to attend the event.
"It's important for us being part of the Boston Celtics," he said. "We just understand the importance of community, and for me, it hits home to find the moment focusing on women and empowering young girls. It's important to give back and be involved in the community that you're in. Our team does a really good job of that, and our players are always conscious of doing these types of events."
Al noted as a "Girl Dad" that his responsibilities to help empower young girls extend to his homelife with his four daughters, who are 2, 4, 6 and 8 years old. “After this, I've got to go help them with their homework," he said. "We’re working on reading right now.”
For many of the attendees, the event immediately became a great memory they'll take home for a long time.
"It was really great, we felt so appreciated," said Jessica Cardosa, who has been going to the center for about a year. "Curtis Hall means community support and mentorship every day. When we get to attend an event like this, it's really special. I hope they have more events like this in the future."
More New England community events ahead with Boston Celtics and TD Bank
New Englanders can expect to see more community events and programs from the relationship between the Celtics and TD. The 2024 NBA champions announced the extension of TD's sponsorship, ensuring TD Bank will be the official bank of the Boston Celtics through the 2044-45 season.
This sponsorship will continue the bank’s role as the exclusive retail and online banking provider for the Boston and Maine Celtics. In Boston, TD Bank will continue to be the presenting sponsor of the Celtics CommUNITY Crew program and continue to work with nonprofits through initiatives such as TD Bank Community Clubhouse and Courtside Kids.
With the Maine Celtics, TD Bank will add specialty games, such as EmpowHER Night and a Fan Appreciation Game. They will also hold CommUNITY Crew events in Maine to support its local communities. During the 2024-25 season, there were three community events with the Maine Celtics and TD.
"For the last 20 years, we've worked with the Celtics to deliver unique benefits, experiences, and community initiatives for fans of this iconic franchise and members of the New England community," Jennie said "We look forward to continuing these important efforts for the 20 years ahead."