Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden recently staged the annual Basketball for Peace tournament at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Clark Athletic Center, inviting more than 150 high school students from across the county to compete on the court while absorbing messages about leadership, education and community responsibility.
Partnerships Driving Impact
The event is made possible through the support of partners such as New Balance, Target, UMass Boston and the Boston Celtics, each contributing resources that amplify the tournament’s reach and reinforce its dual focus on athletic competition and academic encouragement.
During the ceremony, Hayden recognized a roster of mentors and organizations — including No Books No Ball, The B.A.S.E., and Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy — for their sustained commitment to youth development, highlighting the collaborative effort required to nurture the next generation of leaders.
Honoring Mentors and Lifetime Achievement
Among the honorees, Anthony Richards Sr., founder of No Books No Ball, received the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to his decades‑long dedication to mentorship and personal growth. Richards urged the young athletes to view guidance from others as a cornerstone of respect and self‑improvement.
The ceremony also celebrated Chris Sumner and Katani Sumner for their enduring leadership in Boston’s youth programs, with Katani encouraging participants to pursue success as scholar‑athletes, balancing sporting ambition with academic achievement.
Additional awards were presented to Joe Janezic, Steph Lewis, Lisa Warshafsky, Wayne Selden Jr. and Kayla Burton, each recognized for their pivotal roles in supporting young people across the community.
Looking ahead, the initiative will expand its outreach with a Soccer for Peace event scheduled for August 12 at Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester, continuing the tradition of using sport as a catalyst for education and accountability.
Now in its third decade, the Basketball for Peace program has consistently demonstrated how organized athletics can be woven together with scholarly support, fostering an environment where teenage athletes are encouraged to excel both on the court and in the classroom.