Carmelo Anthony's Charitable Acts...Which Could Include Sticking with the New York Knicks & Forfeiting his Chance at a Championship
Forbes fashioned a short catalog of charitable celebrities in an article entitled The 30 Most Generous Celebrities at the head of 2012. Authors, actors, artists, comedians, models and athletes were applauded for the selfless acts, including NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, whose generosity included providing a total sum of $837,200 ($500,000 to Syracuse University and $302,000 to The Living Classroom Foundation) to charities in 2011, alone. The environment, poverty, refugees, animals, at-risk/disadvantaged youth, children, conservation and disaster relief are causes that he funds, and foundations and charities that he's supported include the Boys & Girls, Soles4Souls, and WildAid. The athlete also hosts an annual 3-on-3 tournament, known as "Melo's H.O.O.D. Movement 3 on 3 Challenge (Holding Our Own Destiny)" in Baltimore.
The Afro-Puerto Rican Brooklynite established his own philanthropic organization in 2005. The Carmelo Anthony Foundation is a "vehicle by which Carmelo and his family give back to the community through a variety of outreach programs and donations." The foundation functions to invest in positive programing, empowerment opportunities for underserved children and families, and it advocates for community building and building global links. The organization has done outreach for Hurricane Sandy relief, and funded the construction of multiple youth development centers.
"One person who's doing [charity right] is Carmelo Anthony, whose Carmelo Anthony Foundation deploys the vast majority of its funds on actual charitable activities thanks to the fact that its money, overwhelmingly, just comes from Anthony himself or from Melo Enterprises, his personal corporation. He knows what he's good at-scoring points in professional basketball games and getting paid for his trouble-and so he forks over checks," said Matthew Yglesias of Slate.com.
Courts 4 Kids, A Very Melo Giveback, A Very Melo Xmas and Camp Melo are the name of set programs that's been established by the budding charitable trust. Melo's charitable nature even bleeds unto the court; evident by his contributions on the hardwood, his role as a strong supporter and leader for teammates, and the high-scorer's allegiance to the New YorkKnicks. However, the New York Knicks' rough season may cause his commitment to waver, and the team may find themselves without their #7 comes next season, mainly due to the fact that he's been tasked with "shouldering" a losing team.
Asked Melo if he feels like hes doing it by himself on nights where he scores 35 w little support: "I feel like its always on my shoulders."
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) February 23, 2014
A myriad of spectators and players believe that the seven-time All-Star's talents are being wasted on the Knicks, as they are winning less than 40 percent of their games.
The past four games, Anthony averaged 41.3 points on 53 percent shooting, including 19-of-36 from downtown. His brazen performance matches the same intensity felt throughout the length of his career; he acts as a scorer on the offensive end of the court and much more. But he's matched with underperforming players, an injury-depleted roster, a losing record, and partners with teammates who get taken under by reckless gun charges (*cough* Raymond Felton *cough*).
Jim Boeheim, who coached Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse believes that Anthony should leave the Knicks, remarking that the team won't be going anywhere next season. NBC Sport's writer, Dan Feldman, echoed Boeheim's thoughts, saying that the Knicks were "old and capped out, stuck with a dismal roster." Also, an anonymous former teammate of Anthony's believes that Anthony's departure is nigh, because of the team's perpetual failures.
"I think he's leaving. I've played with Melo for a long time and he knows he can't win here. At this stage, all he wants to do is win. That's why he'll leave."
Anthony, husband of television personality La La Anthony, is already paid a large sum, and building a champion ship team around him would be challenging -rather, impossible. He would have to accept less money, or play for a team that would be able to assemble a team of winners around him if he wants the champion ship -which the Knicks can't afford to do.
The Knicks can offer Anthony approximately $35 million more than any other team under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, and many believe that he won't walk away from a money-spinning contract. Though, Anthony may in fact leave due a reiterated interest in gaining a championship ring.
Anthony could opt out of his contract or re-sign on July 1.