Boston, MA (April 12, 2024) — A local boy had an unforgettable TD Garden experience on Thursday as he had his wish granted by Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Boston Celtics. Tairih King, 9, of Dorchester, wished to meet Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum. King, who underwent treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, was surprised at last Saturday’s Make-A-Wish Gala with the news that his wish would be granted, delivered via video by Tatum and on stage by Celtics President and Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Board Member Rich Gotham, along with members of the Celtics Dancers.
King and his family were escorted to TD Garden by a full motorcade provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and supported by the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police Department. The VIP access began as soon as King arrived at the arena, being escorted onto the court for photos with Celtics mascot Lucky the Leprechaun and Celtics Dancers. King and his brother, Tavaj, even got to show off their handles on the famed TD Garden parquet.
In an arena full of Celtics greats, King was given the celebrity treatment. He met players current and former, including Luke Kornet, Al Horford, Celtics Legend Cedric Maxwell, and more. “Seeing the look on Tairih’s face – both when he learned that his wish would be granted and as he took in each moment of the experience – that’s what it’s all about,” said Gotham. “The fact that we get to create moments like this for families who are going through something so difficult is a big part of why many of us at the Celtics do what we do.”
The highlight, of course, was when King met his favorite player, Tatum, and Tatum’s own young son. King and his brother spent time with Tatum, who engaged the boys, asking them questions about their love of basketball, their hobbies, and King’s wish experience so far. Tatum presented King with a pair of shoes, worn and signed by the NBA All-Star.
King and his family took in the game from loge seats, while taking in the experience that he had looked forward to for so long as his wish was planned. “I am just blown away by this whole night,” said Tairih’s mom, Kyanna. “I can’t even imagine how Tairih is feeling, I am just in awe.”
Sean Holleran, CEO of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, spoke to the importance of a wish experience for a child like King. “The Celtics organization continuously goes above and beyond for our wish kids. It can’t be easy to pull off an experience like Tairih’s when there is so much that goes into a game, but this was a dream come true for Tairih. The anticipation of his wish and the wish experience itself brought so much joy and hope when Tairih and his family needed it most.”
King’s wish was granted as Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island celebrates World Wish Month, a global recognition of the organization’s mission of granting life-changing wishes for local children with critical illnesses, and as the organization works to grant the wishes of over 650 local children who are currently eligible for and are awaiting a wish. To learn more about how individuals, businesses, and community groups can help build hope for wish children, visit www.massri.wish.org/worldwishmonth.
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About Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. Together with generous supporters and 450+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of over 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding in 1983, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. The organization relies on the generosity of the community to continue its wish-granting work. To learn more and get involved, visit www.massri.wish.org.
About the Boston Celtics
A charter member of the Basketball Association of America (which evolved into the National Basketball Association) since 1946, the Boston Celtics have won a record 17 NBA Championships, including eight (8) in a row from 1959-1966, winning their first title in 1957 and their most recent in 2008. The Celtics have long stood for equality, and respect, including hiring the first African American Coach and starting the first all-Black starting five. In addition, 49 former Celtics players, management or staff have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In December 2002, the team returned to local ownership for the first time since 1963. For more information on the Celtics, log on to www.celtics.com.
About World Wish Month
During World Wish Month this April, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island joins with other U.S. chapters, international affiliates and supporters worldwide to celebrate the Make-A-Wish mission and the power of wish—and to encourage people to take action to grant more life-changing wishes through the “WishMakers Wanted” campaign. World Wish Month culminates on April 29, the anniversary of the granting of the wish that inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish. Learn more about World Wish Month opportunities at www.massri.wish.org/wishmaker.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND WISH PHOTO/VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
Heather Davidson, Sr. Manager, Communications - [email protected]