I always knew Anthony Carter was a special person. Watching "AC" play at the University of Hawaii from 1996 to 1998 brought so much excitement to the Stan Sheriff Center. 15 sold out games in 2 seasons, to be exact! He was a leader on the team and gave it everything he had at every game. His humble confidence and charisma enabled him to be a great role model both on and off the court for the young UH fans that attended games.
In 1999, the year we moved to Colorado, AC signed with the Miami Heat. Watching him play against the Nuggets brought back so many memories of seeing him dazzle the crowd in Hawaii. He looked just as confident in the pros as he did at UH. Each time we hear about AC in the news, it's always something great about giving back.
Before leaving Hawaii to sign as a free agent with the Heat, AC promised coach Riley Wallace that he would make it a point to give back to the school if "I ever made it". Giving back just seems to come naturally for AC Going into his 2nd year in the NBA, AC was already giving back to his college and its fans by attending the UH Youth Basketball camp in August, 2000.
2002 brought a $12 million contract with the Heat, another volunteer appearance at a UH Youth Basketball camp, and a $100,000 pledge to fund the AC Carter Scholarship Fund at UH Manoa. Professional sports are filled with talented athletes that pledge to and promote charitable causes. Few complete pledges to fund scholarships within 6 years of leaving college as a way to thank fans, coaches and all of the people that never stopped believing.
In 2004, AC became the first national spokesperson for the "I Have a Dream" Foundation. The foundation helps children from low-income areas attain their education and career goals through mentoring, tutoring, enrichment and tuition assistance. AC was a freshman high school dropout in Atlanta when the "I Have a Dream" Foundation helped him earn his high school equivalency and enter junior college.
Now in his 3rd season with the Denver Nuggets, AC will donate funds for breaking records to the "I Have a Dream" Foundation in Denver, "I Have a Dream" of Boulder County, and the national "I Have a Dream" Foundation.
AC will donate $5,000 for each of the following team and individual records that are broken in the Nuggets' 2008-09 season.
- Most teams wins for the season (54 in 1987-88)
- Carter achieves 6 steals in a game (record is 5, 2 times in career)
- Carter achieves 16 assists in a game (record is 15, once in career)
- Most Carter steals for a season (105 in 1999-00)
- Most Carter assists for a season (434 in 1999-00)
In addition, each time he achieves 10 assists or more in a game, he will donate $1,500, and he will donate five percent (5%) of all playoff bonus money.
Last season, AC donated over $27,000 to the "I Have a Dream" Foundation for breaking records.
Some never get a second chance and most don’t appreciate the ones they get. Anthony Carter is giving back to create second chances for others.
