NEW YORK – Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo received the December Kia Community Assist Award in recognition of his numerous charitable efforts and long history of generosity in the community, the NBA announced today. The award recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

Kia Motors and the NBA are honoring Rondo for his work with several foundations and charities to help those in need. Since his 2006 rookie season, Rondo has partnered with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC). This past holiday season, he spent more than $5,000 on a shopping spree at Macy’s to provide winter clothing for 22 children from the MSPCC.

In addition to his personal efforts, Rondo was a standout participant in the Celtics’ Season of Giving events. He visited 60 youth from the Home for Little Wanderers, which helps ensure the healthy development of children at risk. During the event, Rondo and the kids played Connect Four and games of Knockout, and decorated holiday cookies. Rondo and the entire team then handed out gift bags filled with Samsung tablets, winter coats, shoes and hats.

Rondo’s charity continued with a visit to patients from the Boston Medical Center and Franciscan Hospital, where he played games and sang holiday carols with patients. He also visited the Yawkey Boys and Girls Clubs to distribute $15,000 worth of gifts to 100 kids. Rondo delighted the children with a surprise club holiday party when he arrived in a truck filled with bicycles, electric scooters and iPods.

“I firmly believe that it takes just one person to reach a child and to help turn his or her life in a positive direction,” said Rondo. “On the court, my job is to assist my teammates in making shots. Off the court, my passion is to assist at-risk youth in reaching their full potential.”

Prior to Friday’s home game against the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier, a Kia representative and Celtics ownership will present Rondo with the David Robinson Plaque during an oncourt ceremony. In addition, Kia and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Rondo’s behalf to the Blue Grass Community Foundation.

Kia Motors has been an NBA Cares partner since 2010. In addition to the monthly Kia Community Assist Awards, the league will present a final 2013-14 Seasonlong Kia Community Assist Award.

To learn more, please log on to www.nba.com/kiacommunityassist.