Sport in Society and the Celtics take a time-out the Uphams Corner Charter School

(3-2-06) BOSTON, Mass. � The Center for the Study of Sport in Society�s Project TEAMWORK staff will team-up with the Boston Celtics� Brian Scalabrine and Michael Olowokandi on Thursday, March 2 at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate the high achievement and also encourage the students of the Uphams Corner Charter School in South Boston, Mass. to continue to take pride in their school work.

�Athletes play such an important role in the lives of these kids without even knowing it,� said Jenn Welch training and outreach specialist for Sport in Society�s Project TEAMWORK. �These kids are looking to them to see how to behave. They take what these athletes say to heart, and when their message is positive it resonates with the kids.�

Based on the premise that children are influenced by sports figures, the Stay in School program uses athletes to encourage good attendance. Celtics players, coaches, staff and partners delivered a special program using the acronym "PRIDE" (Positive mental attitude; Respect; Intelligent choices; Dreams and goals; Effort and education). Sport in Society and the Celtics have teamed up for more than a decade and reached thousands of children. Students who participated with the program are often rewarded with two tickets to a Celtics game.

Training specialist with Project TEAMWORK Antonio Arrendel and Kirsten Watson will join Celtics players Scalabrine and Olowokandi to facilitate the event. Arrendel and Watson will each tackle a letter from the acronym �PRIDE�. Arrendel often shares with the crowd the story of a young man from the streets of Dorchester who, with the help of a mentor, stuck to his dreams and goals and parlayed them into a successful sports and professional career. He then surprises the crowd with the revelation that he was the young man.

Project TEAMWORK is a 6-hour diversity awareness and conflict resolution program facilitated by former collegiate student-athletes. This multi-racial, mixed gender team is trained to work with middle and high school students to combat all forms of discrimination, and teach practical conflict resolution skills.

About Sport in Society
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University is one of the world�s leading social justice organizations that use sport to create social change both nationally and internationally. The flagship organization located in the heart of Boston, Mass. was founded in 1984 by Dr. Richard Lapchick and touts branches in Baltimore, Md. and Phoenix, Ariz. Through research, education, and advocacy the center promotes physical activity, health, violence prevention, and diversity among young people and college and professional athletes. Sport in Society�s innovative programs are all staffed by former college or professional athletes and have been awarded America�s most successful violence prevention program by Lou Harris, the Peter F. Ducker Award as the most innovative non-profit program in the social sector, and have been cited as the National Crime Prevention Council�s 50 Best Strategies to Prevent Violent Domestic Crimes. For more information please visit http://www.sportinsociety.org.