The Milwaukee Bucks have posted only three wins this season and their $44 million extension of Larry Sanders contract has been sullied by his injury from a barroom brawl, but in the midst of all that offseason addition Caron Butler has provided a community-minded antidote.
While Butler’s on-the-court impact has been limited by injuries, the Racine native has been actively giving back to residents of his home town. For example, I briefly interviewed Butler and his wife, Andrea, at the John Bryant Community Center where they were giving away 200 turkeys to families in Racine.
Also on hand were youth basketball teams that Butler sponsors.
Even before Butler returned to his home territory via a Bucks trade in August, he was involved in charitable and philanthropic activities in Racine.
In July 2012, he announced a $200,000 gift to the Advancing Family Assets organization and has continued supporting the group’s special events and activities. He has hosted youth athletic events and even gave 200 bicycles to Racine kids who pledged to do well in school.
Butler told me he plans to continue contributing to Racine and its residents. He’s looking at investing in downtown Racine real estate as well as addressing additional community needs. He is planning to meet with Racine Mayor John Dickert to discuss ideas.
“I want to talk about some things and help develop the community,” Butler told me.
Dickert told me he appreciates Butler’s dedication to his home town.
“He’s a very nice young man and he’s got a big heart for Racine and Lord knows I appreciate that,” Dickert told me.
Dickert says he is encouraging Butler to put his money behind projects or programs can have a lasting impact on improving Racine.
“What I told him is we’re looking at doing things that are game-changers — that are life-changers for kids,” Dickert told me.
If Butler wants to pursue commercial real estate investment, Racine city officials would be happy to help, Dickert said.
“If he wants to do investment and development downtown, he should contact us,” Dickert said. “We have a lot of information on what’s been done and can be done.”
Of course, Butler also has expressed an interest in another business venture: possibly buying or investing in the Milwaukee Bucks, as I reported in The Business Journal’s Friday print edition.