Boston Celtics and Amica Announce Inaugural Early Education Grants
Jayson Tatum Reveals $50,000 Game Changer Grants to Little Amigos Learning Center and the Dimock Center
LINCOLN, R.I. (June 2026) – Amica and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation (BCSF) announced that they will be awarding the first two Game Changers Early Education Grants to the Little Amigos Early Learning Center of West Roxbury and the Dimock Center located in Roxbury. Each organization will receive $50,000 through this new initiative. On hand to help celebrate with the children was Jayson Tatum.
The grants build on the impactful community contributions already being made by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and the Amica Companies Foundation. Last summer, the organizations announced plans to fund the renovation and opening of a new early childhood center in the Manton Heights community in the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence. The center is scheduled to open later this year.
The Dimock Center, through its Child and Family Services division, operates Early Head Start, Head Start, and family support programs serving over 200 children annually across center-based and home-based models. They will use the funds to restore and upgrade a critical infant and toddler outdoor play space and address safety concerns caused by tree root damage and aging infrastructure. Little Amigos Early Learning Center, that serves infants through preschool-aged children, plans to support the construction of a dedicated, year-round gross motor learning space and strengthen family programming capacity with their grant.
“Having access to quality spaces where kids can learn, play and develop can make a lasting difference,” said Tatum. "I'm honored to help celebrate the incredible work these centers are doing and know they will continue to impact the community for years to come."
The Game Changers Early Education Grant Program is administered with support from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) through its Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund (RICCELFF). Grant funding may be used for facility improvements, repairs that address health and safety needs, reconfiguration of existing spaces to increase capacity, or the development of new early learning environments through construction, renovation or expansion.
“Empathy is at the heart of what Amica does, whether it’s supporting our policyholders or the communities that we serve,” said Amica Chairman, President and CEO Ted Shallcross. “We’re proud to support Little Amigos Early Learning Center and the Dimock Center in their work to make a meaningful difference for children and their families.”
To learn more, visit https://www.nba.com/celtics/community/early-education/bcsf-grant
About Amica Insurance
Founded in 1907, Amica Mutual Insurance Company is headquartered in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and is the oldest mutual automobile insurer in the United States, offering auto, home, life and umbrella insurance policies nationwide. With $5.9 billion in assets and over 3,500 employees, Amica creates peace of mind and builds enduring relationships with its customers across the country, protecting what’s most important to them.
Amica’s award-winning customer service is rooted in empathy and compassion. The company has been recognized with more than 65 J.D. Power awards, including #1 rankings in customer satisfaction among homeowners and rental insurance providers in 2025. Amica has also been named one of America’s Best Insurance Companies by Forbes for five consecutive years and holds an A+ rating for financial stability from AM Best.
Learn more at Amica.com.
About Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation
Through a social justice lens, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation extends the reach of the Celtics Championship legacy into the New England community by serving families and children in need. On an annual basis, the Shamrock Foundation provides grassroots programming and strategic funding to local organizations serving marginalized populations. The Shamrock Foundation partners with socially responsible corporations and philanthropic individuals to grow its mission and reach throughout the community. The outreach unites, empowers, and uplifts the community by leveraging the power of sport and the Celtics global brand.