Bill Russell Legacy Project Includes Grants for Youth Mentoring

Bill Russell Legacy Project Includes Grants for Youth Mentoring May 24, 2011: The Mass Mentoring Partnership, a MENTOR affiliate, is partnering with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and the City of Boston on the Bill Russell Legacy Project, which includes an annual grants program for youth mentoring organizations in Boston so that more local children have access to quality, structured mentoring. At an event last week, Russell and more than 400 supporters and community leaders were at Fenway Park, along with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Boston Celtics Co-owner and Managing Partner/ President of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Stephen Pagliuca; Boston Celtics Legend Tommy Heinsohn; and Founder of the Sager Family Foundation and Chairman of Polaroid Bobby Sager to discuss the Legacy Project. In addition to establishing the Bill Russell Mentoring Grant Program, which Mass Mentoring will administer, the project will erect a statue of Russell in Boston to celebrate his achievements as the greatest champion in the history of professional sports, as a national leader in human rights and as a dedicated advocate for youth mentoring. "We are so proud to play a role in this effort that Mayor Menino and the Celtics have made so reflective of Bill's lifetime of activism, as well as his many iconic accomplishments in Boston," Mass Mentoring Partnership's Chief Executive Officer David Shapiro said. "They have created a living legacy of Bill's catalytic social justice leadership that will inspire future generations of our city's youth through the proven impact of mentoring." As part of last week's event, the Mass Mentoring Partnership presented Russell with a Lifetime Achievement Champion of Mentoring Award and the Boston Celtics with its 2011 Champion of Mentoring Award, which honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to youth mentoring and have championed the strategic growth of high-quality mentoring throughout Massachusetts. "We are delighted that Bill Russell's many accomplishments are being recognized in this way," said MENTOR President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Larry Wright. "Bill has been an active member of MENTOR's board of directors since 1996, so the collaboration to make youth mentoring grants in his name is particularly meaningful." In his remarks last week, Russell noted a poem that made an impression on him in high school. The James Russell Lowell piece read: "It is not what we give, but what we share. Because the gift, without the giver, is bare." Russell also mentioned that his mother gave him "Felton" as his middle name after Felton Clark, a former president of Southern University in Louisiana. "It was a reminder that his goal was to get to college," Russell said. "I'm trying to share that with the next generations of Americans." Heinsohn, who heads the committee to design the statue of Russell, reflected: "[It was a] very difficult time in the city's history, and Russell proved that he was his own person, which was very difficult to do in those days. And he stood tall and he represented a great organization, and I think through him, it taught the city teamwork, how people could get along." ESPN reported that Russell's daughter Karen reiterated her father's focus on education before the event began. "I'm very proud of my father and proud of this group of people and his dear friend the mayor," she said. "And I agree with my dad, as long as it's something that helps further mentoring and helps children and education, we're all for it." To donate to the Bill Russell Legacy Fund and for more information on the project and grant program, visit www.billrusselllegacy.org. For more information on youth mentoring, go to www.mentoring.org.