http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/368563.html
A benevolent pair of Kings: Ron Artest returns to New York City to continue his work with a wheelchair assistance program
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 9, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
After a summer full of trade rumors surrounding Ron Artest and the New York Knicks, the small forward will be playing in Madison Square Garden after all.
Not to play for the Knicks, but to participate in the 17th annual Wheelchair Charities Inc. game today. Artest, Kings big man Justin Williams and former Kings point guard Ronnie Price (now with the Utah Jazz) will play in the game that includes at least 11 NBA players and raises funds for the non-profit organization, which donates equipment to people in need.
"The city (of New York) doesn't buy motorized wheelchairs, and they cost from $10,000 to $35,000," said Hank Carter, the founder of Wheelchair Charities Inc. "We've donated 30 this year, and most of these people can't move their body. We couldn't have done this without Ron."
Artest, who has volunteered with the New York City-based group every year since his middle school days in New York City, will present a motorized wheelchair to a shooting victim who is now a paraplegic. The event has personal ties for Artest, who lived with Carter for a year while attending La Salle High School in Manhattan.
"The (college) recruiters were driving him crazy (at his house), so he came to live with me," Carter said.
"Ron is special. He's always given. When he was a junior and a senior, he had a chance to go to Paris with (his Amateur Athletic Union team) ... but he stayed and played for the people in the wheelchair.
"He's one of the few guys who plays in this game who pays for his own (plane) ticket and his own hotel. We've had years where we didn't have enough players, and he always rounds up enough guys to make it work."
Artest was unavailable for comment.
Hence, Artest's summer of good will continues. After pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge May 3, Artest was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project through the Placer County Sheriff's Department.
From his July trip to Africa with the National Basketball Players Association to a three-day trip to Honduras in August to join the Feed the Children program, Artest has spent much of the offseason fulfilling the obligation and then some.
His publicist, Heidi Buech, said the Honduras trip and the wheelchair event will not be counted as part of his court-mandated community service. The Africa trip did count toward the 100 hours, Buech said, adding Artest hopes to make one more trip to the African country of Chad later this month. In all, Buech said Artest has fulfilled 85 of the 100 hours. He has completed the 10-day work project.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
A benevolent pair of Kings: Ron Artest returns to New York City to continue his work with a wheelchair assistance program
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 9, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
After a summer full of trade rumors surrounding Ron Artest and the New York Knicks, the small forward will be playing in Madison Square Garden after all.
Not to play for the Knicks, but to participate in the 17th annual Wheelchair Charities Inc. game today. Artest, Kings big man Justin Williams and former Kings point guard Ronnie Price (now with the Utah Jazz) will play in the game that includes at least 11 NBA players and raises funds for the non-profit organization, which donates equipment to people in need.
"The city (of New York) doesn't buy motorized wheelchairs, and they cost from $10,000 to $35,000," said Hank Carter, the founder of Wheelchair Charities Inc. "We've donated 30 this year, and most of these people can't move their body. We couldn't have done this without Ron."
Artest, who has volunteered with the New York City-based group every year since his middle school days in New York City, will present a motorized wheelchair to a shooting victim who is now a paraplegic. The event has personal ties for Artest, who lived with Carter for a year while attending La Salle High School in Manhattan.
"The (college) recruiters were driving him crazy (at his house), so he came to live with me," Carter said.
"Ron is special. He's always given. When he was a junior and a senior, he had a chance to go to Paris with (his Amateur Athletic Union team) ... but he stayed and played for the people in the wheelchair.
"He's one of the few guys who plays in this game who pays for his own (plane) ticket and his own hotel. We've had years where we didn't have enough players, and he always rounds up enough guys to make it work."
Artest was unavailable for comment.
Hence, Artest's summer of good will continues. After pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge May 3, Artest was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project through the Placer County Sheriff's Department.
From his July trip to Africa with the National Basketball Players Association to a three-day trip to Honduras in August to join the Feed the Children program, Artest has spent much of the offseason fulfilling the obligation and then some.
His publicist, Heidi Buech, said the Honduras trip and the wheelchair event will not be counted as part of his court-mandated community service. The Africa trip did count toward the 100 hours, Buech said, adding Artest hopes to make one more trip to the African country of Chad later this month. In all, Buech said Artest has fulfilled 85 of the 100 hours. He has completed the 10-day work project.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
