yahoo
The Boston Celtics are enjoying their lengthiest hiatus of the young season, having last taken the court on Wednesday, Nov. 11, when they erased a 22-point deficit to defeat the Toronto Raptors in Canada. With several days off, many players chose to give back to the community on Friday by visiting Boston Children's Hospital, where they met with more than 40 patients and their families. This visit is part of an annual tradition that traces back to 2010.
Among the players who participated were Mike Conley Jr., Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Jayson Tatum, Luka Garza, and others. Celtics owner Bill Chisholm and President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens also attended. The group went room to room, spending time with children receiving care, signing autographs, and even playing games like Connect 4.
The Celtics' support for the hospital extends beyond these visits. In late October, the team announced a donation of over $200 million to advance pediatric care, research, and other programs at Boston Children's. Garza, who joined the team last year, cherished the opportunity to connect with patients at the hospital's 300 Longwood Avenue location.
"It means a lot, it's really rewarding for us to be able to engage, see the kids, and see the smiles on their faces," Garza said. "A lot of them are Cs fans, so if they don't get to come to a game, we get to come to them, share laughter, share a moment, and just have fun."
The Celtics, now 10-2, will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host the Dallas Mavericks (7-5) at TD Garden.
Originally reported by yahoo.