‘Boston is home’: Jaylen Brown says his 7uice Foundation will remain in town

Sport admin July 8, 2026 0 Comments

‘Boston is home’: Jaylen Brown says his 7uice Foundation will remain in town

CAMBRIDGE — Jaylen Brown may be getting traded out of Boston, but the Celtics star said Tuesday his work to bolster education and financial literacy for Boston’s underrepresented communities will continue.

“Boston is home,” Brown said Tuesday at an event at the MIT Media Lab where Governor Maura Healey honored his work off the court. “No management or organization can take that away.”

Brown said he’s been in Boston so long, there’s no question he’ll stay invested in the city after his departure. His remarks came during the opening day of Bridge Boston, a summer camp for high schoolers with interest in STEAM careers, one of several initiatives from his 7uice Foundation.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to find solutions to problems that exist and being the voice for those who are willing to listen,” Brown said.

At the event, Healey declared July 7 as 7uice Foundation Day in Massachusetts, in honor of Brown’s community investment.

“That impact means more and has a greater effect than any banner hanging at TD Garden,” Healey said. “A lot of athletes don’t think about using their platform in a way to make life better in way to create opportunities, especially for our young people.”

The declaration, on the seventh day of the seventh month, commemorates Brown’s jersey number with the Celtics. It’s the second holiday Brown was recognized for after Oct. 24, his birthday, was declared the city of Boston’s Jaylen Brown day last year. Healey, a former college and professional point guard herself, called him one of the greatest players to ever don the green.

Questions, criticism, and worries have flooded Boston after news of the five-time all-star’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers erupted last week.

Many fans have been upset about Boston losing its finals MVP and leader on the Celtics, but some civic leaders are even more concerned about losing his commitment to Boston’s kids.

However, Brown, who grew up Georgia, said his work on that front is here to stay.

“I’ve seen change in Boston, but there’s absolutely more work to do,” he said.

Three years ago, Brown said he wanted to bring a Black Wall Street to Boston. He and his mother, Mechalle Brown, who is also the president of 7uice, spearheaded that mission. Through 7uice, they’ve started the Bridge Boston program and Boston Xchange, a nonprofit focused on creating $5 billion in net wealth for marginalized communities in Boston. Despite countless philanthropic efforts over his decade in Boston, Brown isn’t satisfied.

“Boston is the perfect place to do it,” Brown said. “The resources are so high here, but there’s still a lack of resources in some areas.”

Affordable housing and disproportionate incarceration rates are his next areas of focus for Boston. He also has similar plans for Philadelphia.

Tyrik Wilson, manager of the city of Boston’s Youth Sports Initiative, said Brown’s commitment to the community is rare among professional athletes.

“It’s off-season, this is the time you need to be resting,” Wilson said. “He’s putting himself out there. He’s trying to make change in any way that he can.”

Wilson said the city is inspired to carry on Brown’s legacy after his departure.

Days before the trade, the Legislature gave the 7uice Foundation a $700,000 earmark in the new fiscal year’s budget to supports its goals.

Jalen Judy, 16, one of the students at the MIT program, said he teared up when he heard Brown was being traded. He said he appreciates the program, which has given him a good foundation to pursue his dream of studying business in college and becoming a lawyer.

“He’s providing big business to kids that are trying to make themselves big,” Judy said. “Basketball changes, but his morals won’t.”