AMESBURY— People may know him from his days as Marky Mark, but Mark Wahlberg is now best known for his leading roles in movies such as "The Italian Job," "Shooter," "The Departed" and as executive producer of the HBO series "Entourage."
What many don't know is Wahlberg's commitment to Boys & Girls' Clubs around the state.
With help from Amesbury's Henry Penzi, an assistant and friend to Wahlberg for many years who also does work for the clubs, Wahlberg is leaving his mark on the Boys & Girls Club of the Merrimack Valley, which draws kids from Newburyport, Salisbury, Amesbury, Newbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Seabrook and Hampton, N.H.
Currently, Wahlberg, who is on location in Lowell along with Christian Bale and Amy Adams, is shooting the movie "The Fighter," which follows the life of Irish boxer Mickey Ward and his half brother and trainer in the years before Ward turned pro.
Wahlberg has donated signed boxing gloves to the local club, as well as 150 pairs of shoes to the kids who use the club.
"They do a great program there," Penzi said. "Mark comes and plays basketball with the kids and also lends his time to kids with special needs."
Wahlberg has worked with the Boys & Girls Club in Dorchester for many years, having gone there regularly when he was a young child, Penzi said. Wahlberg lends his time to all the Boys and Girls Clubs in the Massachusetts area, including donating shoes to all of them.
Last week during a break in shooting, Wahlberg took Jim Keenan, the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley, golfing at Haverhill Country Club. Wahlberg just wanted to get to know Keenan, Penzi said.
Penzi said that he will be bringing Wahlberg to visit the different towns in the area throughout the month. First on the list will be Newburyport, where they will have dinner.
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