NYCHA - Carmelo Anthony NYCHA Unveil

NYC Housing Authority


Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2013
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

New York Knicks Player Carmelo Anthony and NYCHA Unveil the Newly Refurbished Basketball Court at Red Hook East Houses

The basketball court was refurbished thanks to the Carmelo Anthony Foundation and JPMorgan Chase.

New York Knicks and NBA All-Star Player Carmelo Anthony and New York City Housing Authority Chairman John B. Rhea cut the ribbon on the newly refurbished basketball court at Red Hook East Houses. The NBA’s 2013 season’s high scorer, who spent his early childhood in the Red Hook Houses, and JPMorgan Chase contributed to the remodeling of the basketball court to benefit the children of this community and give them a better place where they can play.

“I'm just excited that we were finally able to make this happen,” said Carmelo Anthony. “Red Hook is where I started and where I've returned to begin my Courts 4 Kids efforts. I'm thankful for the privilege to give back.”

“This generous donation from Carmelo Anthony’s foundation shows the heart of a true champion who continues to give back to his community,” said NYCHA Chairman John Rhea. “The Red Hook youth who play on the court in the months and years ahead will know that the NBA’s top scorer for 2013 had their interest in mind and made their recreation a priority for him.”

The Carmelo Anthony Foundation and JPMorgan Chase provided the funding that resulted in the re-pavement of the basketball court that also was repainted and received new logos. The back boards and rims received a new coat of paint and repairs were made to the surrounding fence. NYCHA youth are already enjoying the renovated basketball court, showing off their skills during a short exhibition game.

“Chase was proud to work with Courts4Kids to support this effort to give Red Hook’s children a safe place to play,” said Lois Backon, executive director of Global Philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase. “The Red Hook community overcame tremendous adversity after Superstorm Sandy, and Chase and our employees are always ready to pitch in to help those in need.”

“This is a wonderful gift for our kids, who can feel good about playing in a nicely refinished court,” said Red Hook East Resident Association President Dorothy Shields. “We are grateful to Carmelo Anthony and his foundation for giving back to the kids in his community.” Since the establishment of his foundation in 2005, Mr. Anthony has aimed to make a difference for disadvantaged communities. As part of his legacy, Carmelo Anthony has helped restored six basketball courts in Syracuse and three in Puerto Rico, where his father is from. By the end of the summer, two more courts in Syracuse and one additional court in Puerto Rico will have been refurbished. Red Hook’s renovated court is the first one in his birthplace, New York City.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA):

NYCHA provides decent and affordable housing in a safe and secure living environment for low- and moderate-income residents in New York City. NYCHA serves approximately 420,000 public housing residents across 334 developments in all five boroughs. To fulfill this mission, NYCHA must preserve its aging housing stock through timely maintenance and modernization of its developments. NYCHA also administers a citywide Section 8 Leased Housing Program in rental apartments. Simultaneously, we work to enhance the quality of life at NYCHA by offering our residents opportunities to participate in a multitude of community, educational, and recreational programs, as well as job readiness and training initiatives.

Carmelo Anthony Foundation

Established in 2005, The Carmelo Anthony Foundation is the vehicle by which Carmelo gives back to the community through a variety of outreach programs and donations. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to positively impact the lives of those living in under-served communities through 3 key focus areas – education, recreation & community outreach.