Boston Celtics and RE/MAX of New England Team Up To Give North Providence RI Family a New "Home Court"

BOSTON (August 28, 2013) – The Boston Celtics and RE/MAX of New England gave the Ricci family of North Providence, Rhode Island a home basketball court renovation, as the winners of the RE/MAX of New England Home Court Program contest.  The Ricci family had their new home basketball court dedicated by Celtics guard Avery Bradley and Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell.  In addition, the Ricci family received a bedroom makeover as part of winning the contest.  Bradley and Maxwell also conducted a free one hour basketball clinic at the Dr. Joseph A. Whelan Elementary School for 100 children.

The Ricci family was selected as the winner of the RE/MAX Home Court Program among hundreds of candidates who sent in letters detailing why they were in need of a home court makeover.  KJ Ricci was nominated by his father, Kevin, who wrote of KJ’s love of the Celtics in his essay. In December, 2011, KJ was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Leukemia and has spent over 250 days undergoing treatments designed to battle this disease at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. On one of the only three days he was cleared by his doctors to go out in public this past January, KJ chose to spend the evening at a Celtics’ game and on the day he was discharged from the hospital, KJ wanted to go to TD Garden to see a game as well. Now that’s a true fan.

The home court makeover consisted of a driveway and court resealing, a brand new basket stanchion, backboard, electronic scoreboard, ball rack and additional Celtics gear. After finishing the makeover, Bradley and Maxwell shot around with the family and neighborhood kids.