PORT CHESTER, N.Y. - The Carver Center teamed up with Knicks Head Coach Mike DAntoni and other members of the team's coaching staff on Wednesday to give away 150 turkey dinners to families from the centers food pantry and after school program.
The staff also conducted a clinic for members of Port Chester Highs boys' and girls' basketball teams.
The event, which is in its third year, is largely coordinated by DAntonis wife Laurel. According to Elizabeth Cook, the Carver Centers development director, the event would not have been possible if it werent for the Laurels effort.
Laurel DAntoni also helped renovate the Carver Centers gymnasium, where the Turkey give-away and clinic is held.
"Its an old-fashioned community center that is all encompassing and meets the needs of an under-served community," she said of the Carver Center.
The Knicks coach echoed his wifes sentiment.
The Carver Center does a great job all year long and this our way of helping them out, DAntoni said. We get to come down here, feed some families, teach some kids, and its a really gratifying experience.
Port Chester High School boys basketball coaches Bob Wynn and Craig Holcomb expressed a similar sense of gratitude towards the Knicks and the DAntoni family.
Every year we take a day off from practice and come down to the Carver Center with the Knicks, Holcomb said. Our kids look forward to it every year and they really get a lot out of it.
Holcomb added that, after three years, the Knicks coaches even know some of the players by their first names.
You can tell the coaches are really into it, and it means a lot to the kids, he said.
Also on hand to help out was former Knick Allan Houston and current Knicks Vice President Jamie Matthews of Port Chester.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
