Patriots celebrate local teachers

Patriots players Joe Cardona, Adam Butler and Ryan Izzo were among the hundreds of volunteers who joined Patriots season ticket members and the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund to plant 37,000 American flags on the Boston Common on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The flag garden is a way to celebrate and honor all of the brave men and women for their service on Memorial Day weekend.

In partnership with AccesSportAmerica, Patriots players Lawrence Guy, Jonathan Jones, Ted Karras and Derek Rivers led a football skills clinic for 150 high school students with disabilities on May 8. The players volunteered alongside the Harvard football team and providing guidance and words of encouragement to the participants.

In honor of the NFL's 100th season, fans are encouraged to join their favorite teams and players in a Huddle for 100. The ultimate goal is to have one million fans donate 100 volunteer minutes. To help kick off this initiative, the Patriots Foundation hosted a Huddle for 100 event at Gillette Stadium during draft weekend. More than 200 season ticket members volunteered alongside current and former Patriots players to create birthday kits for children in hospitals. All of the kits were donated to the Confetti Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Rhode Island that has thrown more than 6,000 birthday parties for children in hospitals across the country. Brandon King, Christian Fauria and Dan Koppen joined the season ticket members and announced two of the Patriots 2019 draft picks.

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Patriots safety Duron Harmon helped lead 25 students from Crossroads School with autism spectrum disorders and related diagnoses during their trip to Boundless Adventures, an aerial adventure park in Berlin which combines high ropes courses with zip lining.

In June of 2018, the Patriots rookie class visited Boston Children’s Hospital. During their visit, the players worked with New Era and several patients to design two Patriots winter hats. Once the hats were completed, they were available for purchase at the Patriots Pro Shop. Part of the proceeds from the hat sales were earmarked for Boston Children’s Hospital. The hats were a big success and on April 23, Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett and Patriots cheerleaders presented a $5,000 donation to the hospital. The special guests also spent time with patients and families throughout the hospital.

In honor of Month of the Military Child in April, the New England Patriots players, cheerleaders and alumni hosted a Football For You skills clinic on Joint Base Cape Cod on Wednesday, April 17 and at another at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine the following day. Brian Hoyer, Brandon Bolden, Ted Karras, Isaiah Wynn and Joe Cardona were among the Patriots teaching kids the basics of football.

On Patriots Day, 19 runners represented the New England Patriots Foundation for the 123rd annual Boston Marathon. Every single member of the team completed the 26.2 mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston while wearing a Patriots uniform, generously donated by Nike and All Sports Heroes in Lowell. In addition to completing the race, the 2019 Patriots Boston Marathon team raised more than $220,000 for the Patriots Foundation.

In celebration of National Library Week, Patriots players, cheerleaders and Pat Patriot visited six different public libraries. The special guests spent time reading to children and families in Bellingham, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Norfolk and Walpole.

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon visited the Boston Higashi School on April 10. He participated in a school-wide assembly and helped to lead a physical education class. Harmon provided word of encouragement and support to all of the students.

Patriots players Ryan Izzo and Derek Rivers joined Patriots cheerleaders and Gillette Stadium Executive Chef Brad Ozerdem at Boston Children’s Hospital to celebrate National Pancake Day. The special guests created pancake masterpieces in the Patient Entertainment Center and provided Patriots-themed gifts to the children. The players and cheerleaders also spent time delivering pancakes to children throughout the hospital.

Six year old Brody Simoncini of Worcester, Mass. created the award-winning “Oreo Oh My Goodness” pancakes as part of IHOP’s Free Pancake Day campaign. Brody had previously been treated at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital when he made the pancakes and the Patriots wanted to congratulate the young chef. On March 8, Patriots offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn visited Brody at his elementary school to present him with a personalized jersey and other Patriots gifts. Wynn also read several books to Brody and his classmates and spoke about the importance of reading.

Jeremy Hill and Ted Karras spent Friday reading with students at Vernon Hill Elementary and Lake View Elementary schools in Worcester. Both schools welcomed guest readers to help the students get excited about reading, including local police, firefighters, city officials and even the Holy Cross women's basketball team.