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 Riccis are an amazing family and KJ has been through so much,” Bradley said.  “I really enjoyed seeing and meeting all of them and seeing the excitement in KJ as he broke in his new court.”

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.

For more information on the RE/MAX Home Court Program, log on to www.celtics.com.

About RE/MAX of New England and Integra Enterprises

Since its inception in 1985, RE/MAX of New England has grown to over 220 offices and 2,700 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, providing franchised residential and commercial real estate services to its franchisees and their real estate professionals.Integra Enterprises Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Integra is the largest sub-franchisor of Denver, Colorado based RE/MAX, LLC. Representing approximately 30 percent of RE/MAX worldwide with more than 27,000 agents, Integra operates RE/MAX regional headquarters in Massachusetts, Indiana, Minnesota; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Zug, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria.  Integra’s proven operating model supports its membership with a highly accessible and responsive regional leadership team delivering proprietary business development, training, marketing, and continuing education from each of its regional offices. For more information about Integra Enterprises read the Integra brochure or to read more about RE/MAX of New England visit the RE/MAX of New England blog at www.remax-newengland.com and follow us on Twitter at @REMAXNE. RE/MAX is proud to help raise millions of dollars and support charitable organizations like, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

About The Boston Celtics
A charter member of the Basketball Association of America (which evolved into the National Basketball Association) since 1946, the Boston Celtics have won a record 17 NBA Championships, including eight (8) in a row from 1959-1966, winning their first title in 1957 and their most recent in 2008. The Celtics have long stood for equality, and respect, including hiring the first African American Coach and starting the first all black starting five. In addition, 35 former Celtics players, management or staff have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In December 2002 the team returned to local ownership for the first time since 1963. For more information on the Celtics, log on to www.celtics.com.

Contacts: 

Stephen Ciaccio, Regan Communications – (Office) 617- 488-2891, (Cell) 781-254-9405 

 Jeremy Gotlieb, Regan Communications – (Office) 617- 488-2877, (Cell) 617-669-1546