COMMUNITY HONORS KEY PLAYERS AMBASSADORS

The Key Players Project recently hosted their annual reception to honor the ambassadors of 2006 at the Springfield City Library. The reception drew more than 70 community members, including several past ambassadors and founders. Wayne Levy, the Director of Community Relations for the Boston Celtics and one of the catalysts for the conception of the project, was in attendance and gave the keynote address.

Nine of the ten new ambassadors were in attendance to receive their awards. The ten recipients were Eddie Anderson, Jason Brown, Bobby Caban, Euwel Henry, Choice Jennings, Myoung Ho Jun, Tony Malone, Nathaniel Smith, Jose Sostre and Olander Worthy.

The Key Players Project honors men of color in Springfield who have had a positive influence in the lives of the youth in the community (see POV, November 1, 2005). The men are nominated by the youth and then selected by past ambassadors and founders. The 2006 ambassadors were honored again at half court during half time of the Boston Celtics game this past December 21, 2005.

This marks the fourth year of the project. This year's project received over 90 nomination forms, well above the number of previous years. n