BOSTON – The Boston Celtics and TD Bank teamed up for a special Women’s History Month ‘CommUNITY Crew’ event, bringing together Celtics forward/center Al Horford, women leaders in sports and business, and sixty young girls from local nonprofit organizations.
The event, held at Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) Curtis Hall, was designed to inspire and empower the next generation of female athletes and leaders. As part of the program, NBC Sports Boston host Kayla Burton moderated a panel featuring Horford, Celtics Scout and Maine Celtics Assistant GM Ashley Battle, and TD Bank Chief Marketing Officer Jennie Platt. Afterward, the girls took to the court for a basketball clinic, focusing on ball handling, shooting, and competitive drills.
As a father of five children, including four daughters, Horford found personal value in taking part in such an event.
“Experience shapes you,” he shared. “It’s been pretty awesome for me. I take a lot of pride in learning from my daughters and trying to be a good role model for them.”
Balancing basketball and fatherhood, Horford emphasized the importance of quality time and setting an example for young girls.
“For me, it’s always making sure that I find time for my family and my girls, whether it’s playing with them, doing homework, whatever it is,” he said. “Because during the season, it’s very difficult. So, it’s really just taking advantage of those moments when I can. We’re doing fractions. and I completely forgot how to do fractions. So, I was struggling. I had to look it up and relearn it.”
The panel discussion touched on women’s representation in sports, both on and off the court. Horford spoke about the impact of women in the Celtics organization, including Ashley Battle and Allison Feaster, the team’s Vice President of Player Development and Organizational Growth.
“It is very impressive,” he said. “Ashley was talking about how there are not a lot of women in our field, and she’s someone that we all have a lot of respect for. And Allison, as well. They blend right in with us.”
Horford’s respect for the strong women in his life comes from his upbringing. His mother, Arelis Reynoso, was a sports reporter, and his father, Tito Horford, played professional basketball. Growing up, he was immersed in both worlds.
“I was at a lot of events with my mom,” he reminiscied. “She covered baseball, basketball, volleyball, racing, you name it. I was always with her, being in media rooms, around athletes, seeing how things worked. Having my mom in media and my dad in sports gave me a perspective that not a lot of people have. It shaped me.”
Beyond basketball, Horford understands the importance of mentorship and often encourages younger teammates to find balance in their lives.
“I feel like the earlier you’re able to balance that out and figure your schedule out, it always goes a long way,” he said. “It is helpful. And it’s something that the sooner that you do it, the better it’s going to be. And I feel like the more success you will be able to have.”
The event was not just about inspiring the girls in attendance, but also about showing them what’s possible in sports and leadership. By seeing women in powerful roles and hearing from a player like Horford, the group walked away with a different perspective and hopefully, a new career goal in mind.
“We’re just happy to be in this position,” Horford said. “For me to still be playing professionally after many years, I’m very grateful. And I know (my mom) is very grateful for us too, to be in this position.”
As he usually does, Horford left an impact on the event. Whether it was reinforcing the importance of empowering women, both in sports and beyond or helping the group through basketball drills, he delivered a message that will stick with these young athletes long after the event wraps up.
