The Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism in 2011
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation launched the season-long initiative "Celebrate Volunteerism" at the September 18 Patriots versus Chargers game. With a special focus on volunteerism, the Kraft family and the Foundation will honor Myra Kraft's lifetime commitment to philanthropy and charitable service through this campaign.
Each week throughout the season the Foundation will focus on different volunteer areas, with the goal of sharing examples of dedicated volunteers, building awareness of the need for volunteering, identifying and educating others about volunteer opportunities and inspiring New Englanders to follow Myra Kraft's example of becoming a life-long volunteer.
Additional volunteerism activities will include player appearances as part of Patriots Community Tuesdays, and the announcement of the "Patriots Difference Maker of the Week" award, which aims to recognize deserving volunteers on www.patriots.com/community and in Patriots Football Weekly. Fans are encouraged to nominate a "Patriots Difference Maker of the Week" beginning September 18 by
clicking here.
The Celebrate Volunteerism campaign also encourages fans to personally go out into the community and make a difference by pledging volunteer hours. Patriots fans can join the Celebrate Volunteerism movement by pledging volunteer hours by
clicking here where you can print an official Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism certificate. Fans are then encouraged to submit photos holding their Celebrate Volunteerism certificate while participating in their volunteer work to
CharitableEvents@patriots.com to be used on www.patriots.com and other various Patriots publications highlighting the Celebrate Volunteerism campaign.
On August 30 at the annual Kickoff Gala, the Kraft family and Foundation announced the renaming of the Community MVP Awards program to the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards. This year, as part of the Celebrate Volunteerism campaign, the
Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards opened nominations at the October 9 Patriots versus Jets game. For more than 11 years, this program has honored deserving volunteers through the region for their service by awarding grants to the nonprofits for which they volunteer.
How YOU can make a difference!
- Pledge volunteer hours
- Nominate a "Patriots Difference Maker of the Week"
- Participate in book, food, coat and toy drives at Gillette Stadium home games
- Submit a nomination for the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards after Oct. 9
- Make a donation to the Patriots Charitable Foundation
- Submit photos of volunteer work with Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism certificate to CharitableEvents@patriots.com
Patriots Charitable Foundation "Celebrate Volunteerism" Weekly Schedule:
The Patriots celebrate the season-long "Celebrate Volunteerism" campaign!
Though the spirit of volunteerism will continue beyond the 2011 football season in honor of the philanthropic life of Myra Kraft, the Kraft family and Patriots Charitable Foundation celebrated the season-long "Celebrate Volunteerism" campaign in a special halftime ceremony at the Patriots versus Bills home game on January 1, 2012 at Gillette Stadium.
For the final week of the 2011 "Celebrate Volunteerism" campaign, the Patriots Charitable Foundation will work in cooperation Boston Cares.
How do volunteers make an impact?
- Volunteerism is a force for positive social and personal change.
- Volunteering is an activity where everybody wins. People benefit from myriad services volunteers provide; volunteers allow nonprofits and community groups to greatly expand their capacity and serve more people; and volunteers become even more deeply involved as a result of greater community awareness.
- It feels great to do good and communities are better off when volunteers step up to help others. Kids who volunteer are far more likely to be involved in community matters when they get older. Volunteering motivates other acts of giving and participation. Adult volunteers of any age are more likely to donate or leverage other resources for the causes they care about, and they are more likely to vote.
Congratulations to the Grand Prize Patriots Difference Maker – Kate Ebbott
Kate Ebbott, Woman’s Lunch Place Volunteer,Grand Prize Patriots Difference Maker of the Week Kate Ebbott has volunteered at the Woman's Lunch Place (WLP) for nearly 11 years. She started commuting form Winchester, Mass. when she still had children at home in the kitchen and now is considered as unpaid staff coming in for two full days per week. One day a week she works on support, doing guest laundry and showers, and on the other day she works in the resource center one on one with the guests. Not only does she support the WLP with monetary donations she is always willing to do anything.
What volunteer opportunities can I pursue?
Boston Cares
- New Volunteer Orientation – Become a member of Boston Cares, which leads over 200 volunteer teams per month for our Greater Boston community partners. Learn how to use our web-based system to explore upcoming service teams and then volunteer for what you want, when you are able. January orientations dates include January 4, 5, 6, 11, 20, 24, 25, 29, 30. Contact Lace Garland - lgarland@bostoncares.org & 617-422-0910, Ext. 213
- 1/14/12: Lowell Wish Project – Volunteers (age 12+) will sort and organize incoming donations of clothing and household items, to benefit struggling families; battered women; children, teens and single adults in shelters; children with AIDS; and new immigrants from more than 14 countries. Contact Lace Garland - lgarland@bostoncares.org & 617-422-0910, Ext. 213
- 1/24/12: American Red Cross Boston Food Pantry - The Boston Food Pantry provides a week's worth of emergency food to 4,500 low-income clients per month. Volunteers (age 15+) will prepare bags of non-perishable goods (dry foods and cans) to be distributed the next morning to clients. Contact Lace Garland - lgarland@bostoncares.org & 617-422-0910, Ext. 213
- 1/16/12: Individuals and groups are invited to register for our MLK Day of Service in Jamaica Plain – family friendly, morning & afternoon shifts – Contact Lace Garland - lgarland@bostoncares.org & 617-422-0910, Ext. 213
- Interested in getting your company involved in volunteering? Our Hands At Work program can work with you to custom build employee volunteer days for 10 to 1,000 participants. Contact Sara Hamilton – shamilton@bostoncares.org & 617-422-0910, Ext. 203
The Patriots Charitable Foundation is proud to work in conjunction with Boston Cares for the "Celebrate Volunteerism" celebration.
Boston Cares is the largest volunteer agency in New England, a member of the national Hands On Network and a leader in the volunteer engagement sector. We build relationships with schools and nonprofits with needs that can be filled by teams of volunteers; and then we recruit, train and lead reliable and enthusiastic groups of volunteers who get the job done. Our year-round volunteer programs and seasonal signature service events engage adults of all ages, children & teens and corporate partners. Volunteer commitment through Boston Cares is flexible – our projects allow you to volunteer as frequently or as occasionally as you wish. In 2011, Boston Cares will mobilize 3,200 teams through which 25,000 volunteers will serve 70,000 hours in support of 300 schools and nonprofits. Every $1 invested in Boston Cares’ payroll returns at least $4 of value to the community through volunteer labor, supplies, equipment and other services. Potential volunteers can learn more and sign up for a New Volunteer Orientation by visiting
www.bostoncares.org.
