Amica Insurance, Boston Celtics Announce New Early Education Center in Providence
Photos from the groundbreaking ceremony can be found here.
Continuing the multifaceted partnership between Amica Insurance and the Boston Celtics that launched last year with new jersey patches, their respective foundations have announced plans to open a new early childhood education center in Providence, Rhode Island.
Plans for the center were shared at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday attended by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, Celtics President Rich Gotham, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Amica Insurance President and CEO Ted Shallcross, Executive Director of Providence Housing Authority Melissa Sanzaro and community members from across Rhode Island.
Supported through funding provided by the Amica Companies Foundation and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, the project will add dedicated early childhood education space to the Manton Heights Community Center in South Providence. The new center, which will be owned by the Providence Housing Authority, will feature three flexible classrooms designed to adapt to the developmental needs of enrolled children – from infants and toddlers to preschoolers – serving up to 42 children between the ages of 18 months and five years old.
“When we partnered with the Celtics in 2024, our goal was clear: to bring the strength of our two brands together to create meaningful impact in communities across New England,” said Ted Shallcross, President and CEO of Amica Insurance. “Expanding access to safe, high-quality early childhood education is a cornerstone of that commitment. We’re proud to invest in our home state of Rhode Island and excited to welcome local families to this new center in the months ahead.”
This project is the newest addition to Celtics United, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation’s social justice fund. Celtics United was launched in 2020 and is a 10-year, $25 million commitment to addressing systemic inequities in New England across education, health, economic opportunity, criminal justice, voting/civic engagement and breaking down barriers between communities. The Manton Heights project marks another milestone in that effort, with a focus on building equitable access to early education, supporting families and laying a foundation for long-term success.
“The Celtics are committed to creating opportunities that help young people thrive, and early education is a critical factor in shaping successful outcomes in a child’s life,” said Rich Gotham, President of the Boston Celtics. “We’re proud to work alongside Amica to support families in Providence and beyond, and we believe this new early childhood center will help make a tangible difference.”
"Expanding access to high-quality early learning has been a top priority of my administration from day one. This new early childhood center at Manton Heights reflects our shared commitment to investing directly in our neighborhoods and giving every child the strong start they deserve," said Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "As the son of a preschool teacher, I know how critical early education is to a child's long-term success. I want to thank Amica and the Boston Celtics for helping make this center possible and for believing in the future of Providence."
“We are focused on making an impact for generations to come by providing public housing residents access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education,” said Melissa Sanzaro, Executive Director, Providence Housing Authority. “We are grateful to the Celtics and Amica for their partnership in bringing this new center to life, and we look forward to opening its doors to the children of the Manton Heights community in the coming months.”
The opening of the center is the first step of what will be Amica’s and the Boston Celtics’ long-term, joint effort to address accessibility disparities in early education across the New England region. Future phases of the project will involve Amica and the Celtics accepting grant applications from regional early education providers seeking financial support.
Amica, the Celtics and the PHA are currently seeking licensed early education providers who are open to exploring this opportunity. If you are interested in learning more about the Manton Heights Early Education Center, please visit Celtics.com/earlyeducation to complete the interest form.
The PHA expects to officially open the center in early 2026.
Media Contacts:
Boston Celtics
Christian Megliola
cmegliola@celtics.com
Amica Insurance
MediaCenter@Amica.com
About Amica Insurance
Amica is the longest-standing mutual insurer of automobiles in the U.S. A direct writer, Amica also offers home, life, marine and umbrella insurance, as well as annuities.
Founded on principles of outstanding service, Amica creates peace of mind and builds enduring relationships with its customers. That mission is shared and supported by thousands of employees across the country. Visit Amica.com.
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 18 NBA Championships, including eight (8) in a row from 1959-1966, winning their first title in 1957 and their most recent in 2024. 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, 50 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.