On the evening before New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was surprised with the Ron Burton Community Service Award at the 2025 Patriots Premiere, he was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, giving away brand new sneakers to children in foster care.
He and his wife, Parker, had gotten involved with the nonprofit Communities for People during his first season in New England in 2021. This May, he partnered with the organization to donate bikes to 50 to foster kids ahead of the summer in an event at Gillette Stadium. But on Tuesday, he had his entire family with him to help out with the back-to-school party.
Through his own two children are still young, Henry wants them to see him giving back.
"Hopefully they can carry on that tradition," Henry said Tuesday at his event.
"That's what true legacy really is, passing down those true values. Sometimes in our world I feel like we get so caught up in legacy in terms of money or fame and all that stuff. But true legacy is bringing my kids out here to give back so that one day, 30 years from now, they're doing the same thing in some capacity to give back."
Without knowing he would receive it, Henry described what the Ron Burton Award is all about.
The honor was named after the late Ron Burton, a former Patriots running back who was the franchise's first-ever draft pick. Off the field, Burton left a legacy of love and compassion in the organization and throughout New England. To this day, Burton's family continues to run the Ron Burton Training Village in Hubbardston, Mass., to help underprivileged youth grow academically, physically, and spiritually.
Burton's name also lives on with this award – the Patriots' most prestigious individual honor. Previous winners include Brenden Schooler, Jonathan Jones, Deatrich Wise Jr., Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater, Devin McCourty, and David Andrews.
Henry now joins this exclusive club, and after the offseason he's had, he's earned it. Beyond sneaker and bicycle giveaways, he even found a way to make an impact while on vacation.
Henry and his wife spent 11 days in Kenya in what he called a "life-changing" experience this March, combining a long-desired African safari with a firsthand look at International Justice Mission's work combatting human trafficking and violence in vulnerable communities.
"Everything they're doing in the world just aligned with everything I believe in," Henry said. "But it was so cool to actually put names to the faces I've seen on flyers and newsletters… To actually have boots on the ground and meet them and see the change they impact on a daily basis was really special."
The couple began their journey in Nairobi, visiting IJM staff and learning how the organization partners with local law enforcement, courts and social workers to rescue victims and rebuild lives. They later traveled to Mombasa, spent time in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and finished in the Maasai Mara, balancing cultural immersion with candid moments of reflection.
One of the most impactful moments came during a lunch with survivors of violence and human trafficking — many close in age to the 29-year-old tight end.
"They have been through so much," Henry said. "The work that IJM is doing in Kenya and across the globe is making ripples that people can't even understand until they see it."
Henry's passion for the cause began in high school, and years later, he and Parker began supporting IJM financially, drawn by the nonprofit's commitment to not only rescue victims, but empower local communities and justice systems to break cycles of abuse.
While a bucket-list safari capped off the trip — complete with a sunrise hot air balloon ride despite Henry's fear of heights — he emphasized the adventure was always secondary to the mission.
"It gave me a sense of gratitude, first and foremost," he said. "It's cool to think we could be such a blessing to those people through the simplest act of us just being there."
Henry says he's still processing everything he saw and learned, but one thing is clear: the trip strengthened his resolve to continue advocating for those without a voice.
In doing so, whether it's with the Patriots Foundation, Communities for People, or IJM, he hopes to show his children and also his teammates, new or tenured, about the importance of philanthropy.
