Celtics Honor West Hartford Man For A Very Generous Donation

WEST HARTFORD/BOSTON, MASS. — Cousy, Russell, Bird, Auerbach ... Winer?

If you live in West Hartford, know that one of your neighbors was recently honored by the same legendary NBA franchise as the aforementioned quartet of legends — albeit for a different endeavor.

West Hartford resident Jonathan Winer was recently honored on center court at the TD Garden in Boston, home of the Celtics, as one of the team's "Heroes Among Us."

Winer was recognized as a "Hero" for donating his left kidney in honor of a friend who died in 2016 from a terminal illness.

"Determined to honor his friend’s memory, Winer began exploring the living donor process. Following a year of rigorous medical testing, he donated his left kidney—an extraordinary act that ultimately enabled five individuals who had been on dialysis to receive successful organ transplants," wrote the Celtics in an announcement.

On Jan. 10, Winer was cheered and honored at center court during the Celtics' game against the San Antonio Spurs.

And while the Celtics, ultimately, lost the game 100-95, Winer proved he hasn't lost the game of life.

In the years since his donation, Winer has been an advocate for living donors of all kinds, whether organs or blood.

"In addition to his organ donation, he has donated blood more than 40 times and continues to use his story to offer hope and encouragement to others in need. Through his selflessness and compassion, Winer has turned personal loss into a lasting source of inspiration for his community," wrote the Celtics.

Since its establishment in 1997 by the Boston Celtics, the Heroes Among Us program has recognized individuals who have made "exceptional and lasting contributions to their communities." The award is presented at every Celtics home game.