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Carmelo Is Making Moves In The Court & In The Community

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --  Baltimore's own Carmelo Anthony will make his debut for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Jessica Kartalija reports on his impact in the Baltimore community.

Baltimore's own basketball star Carmelo Anthony is making headlines again after signing a three-year, $65 million contract with the New York Knicks. But it's Anthony's contributions to the children of Baltimore City that really make him a superstar.

"He donates stuff to people that doesn't have anything, like homeless kids and homeless people," said Cedric Walker, fourth-grader.

Anthony grew up on Myrtle Avenue in West Baltimore and makes it a priority to pour his good fortune back into the city.

He opened the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in 2006.

"Him opening up the center meant more than just the center opening, but him opening up his heart," said Valencia Warnock, who works at the center.  "We've been appreciative of that."

"He wants people to learn how to cooperate with each other," said Shatia Foreman, fifth-grader.

Foreman is in the after-school program.

"We do homework. They help us and then we do character development," she said.

They learn "how to be respectful and not to bad things and do more good things," said Tavon Mitchell, fourth-grader.

Anthony donated more than $1.5 million to Baltimore City's Living Classrooms Foundation, hosts Melo's H.O.O.D. Movement Three-on-Three Challenge and provides more than 40 Thanksgiving dinners to needy families.

"If I can make one kid smile, I'm making a million kids smile," Anthony said. "That's my motto."

"He makes me smile because . . . everything that he did for the children and kids to make them happy," said Cedric.

Everyday more than 200 kids come to the after-school program at the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center.

To celebrate his debut in New York, the Carnegie Deli has created a sandwich in his name. The Carmelo is made with corned beef, pastrami, salami and bacon. It costs $21.95.

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