FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cecily Faenza; [email protected]; 508-384-9119
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DONATES $200,000 IN THE
NAMES OF 2013 MYRA KRAFT COMMUNITY MVP AWARD WINNERS
26 New Englanders honored at Gillette Stadium at the 2013 Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards.
Ellsworth Evans of Westford, MA wins Third Prize award of $5,000 for The Professional Center for Child Development.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Myra Kraft Community
MVP Awards place a spotlight on those who give their time to help others and exemplify leadership, dedication and a
commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism. Annually, the Kraft family and New England Patriots
Charitable Foundation host the awards program as part of the ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative in honor Myra
Kraft’s example of being a lifelong volunteer.
On June 12, 26 honorees were recognized for their contributions in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium and received grants
for their respective nonprofit organizations. Fifteen New England based organizations were presented with a $5,000 grant
in honor of their volunteers’ work with 10 more receiving grants of $10,000 and one grand prize winner of $25,000. In
2013, the Kraft family doubled the grant amounts to $200,000 as part of the Patriots Marathon Team record-breaking
fundraising in support of the program.
“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of our communities,” said Robert Kraft. “Unfortunately, they often go unrecognized
for their contributions. These awards give us a chance to thank and recognize them. What I love most about this event is
the touching stories and the opportunity to show a small token of our appreciation to these outstanding individuals.”
On hand to congratulate the award winners was Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots
Charitable Foundation President Joshua Kraft, Pro Football and Patriots Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of
Community Affairs Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, punter Zoltan
Mesko and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork.
Ellsworth “Elly” Evans of Westford, Mass. was one of fifteen $5,000 winners.
“To me, volunteerism means using your skills to fill a need,” said Evans. “Adapting toys for special needs children allows
them to play with and enjoy something that would otherwise be useless to them. The joy of seeing these children play is
a great reward.”
“I am honored to know this work has been recognized by the Kraft family and grateful for their generosity to The
Professional Center for Child Development.”
For more than 25 years, Evans has volunteered his time and talents adopting toys for children with disabilities. His skills
have given differently-abled children the ability and confidence to use toys in the classroom. Evans’ adopts toys by
moving or adapting their buttons, sounds or movements to fit children’s needs. Some toys take significant time to modify,
but he is happy to spend the time thinking of the delight it will bring a child.
“Play is not only great fun, but also the foundation of childhood learning, enabling children to develop motor, thinking,
language and social/emotional skills,” remarked Rachel Daniels, OT/Assistive Technology Practitioner at the Professional
Center for Child Development. “Our parents, teachers and therapists are delighted to be able to choose toys that are both
highly motivating and beneficial to a child, and then have Elly adapt them. It is wonderful to hear a child say ‘I did it!’”
Parent & Community Liaison, Ellen McGrail Waddill said, “The spirit of volunteerism as exemplified by Myra Kraft is strong
at The Professional Center for Child Development. Because of volunteers like Elly Evans, students with disabilities are
given the opportunity to play with toys they otherwise may not be able to access. Elly’s willingness to share his time and
talents supports our mission of helping children of all abilities achieve their full potential.”
The 2013 MVPs represent all six New England states, a variety of nonprofit organizations and rang in ages from 15 to 92
years old. Nominations open each spring and for the most up-to-date information, visit www.patriots.com/community.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, defensive lineman Vince Wilfork and Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre
Tippett congratulated the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award $5,000 Third Prize winner Ellsworth Evans from The
Professional Center for Child Development for his outstanding volunteerism. During the luncheon the Kraft family awarded
$200,000 in grants to 26 New England nonprofits.
Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, Patriots Charitable Foundation President Joshua Kraft, and Patriots and Pro
Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett were joined by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and defensive lineman Vince
Wilfork to celebrate their award on the field of Gillette Stadium. The 26 volunteer winners range from 15-92 years old,
with one winner from each state in the region. Winning nonprofits include military member support, education, domestic
violence and health and fitness.
Below is a complete list of the 2013 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners:
Name
Hometown
Organization
Organization Town
Perkins School for the Blind
Watertown, Mass.
$10,000 Second Prize Winners
Coreena Behnke
Yarmouth, Maine
Shirley Fredlund
New Milford, Conn.
Laurie Goguen
Nashua, N.H.
Stephen Hume
Wilbraham, Mass.
Georgette Levesque
Manchester, N.H.
Kathleen Murphy
Providence, R.I.
Jason Sissel
Boston, Mass.
Frances Sytek
Colebrook, N.H.
Marie-Claude Thompson Cambridge, Mass.
Caroline Troise
Providence, R.I.
Amy St. Laurent Foundation
Voice for Joanie, Inc.
Harbor Homes, Inc.
Alzheimer's Association
VA Medical Center
San Miguel School
Endure to Cure Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Helping Hands North, Inc.
Earthen Vessels, Inc.
Rhode Island Free Clinic
Yarmouth, Maine
New Milford, Conn.
Nashua, N.H.
Watertown, Mass
Manchester, N.H.
Providence, R.I.
Boston, Mass.
Colebrook, N.H.
Boston, Mass.
Providence, R.I.
$5,000 Third Prize Winners
Jackie Curtis
Mansfield, Mass.
Anthony DeQuattro
Cumberland, R.I.
Paul Espina
Burlington, Vt.
Ellsworth Evans
Westford, Mass.
Toya Farrar
South Boston, Mass.
Taylor Filanowski
Naugatuck, Conn.
Stephen Fine
Peabody, Mass.
Robert Hunter
Attleboro, Mass.
John Lewandowski
Manchester, N.H.
Nick Lowinger
Cranston, R.I.
Raymond Luscinski
Newbury, N.H.
Trudy Matthews
Hollis, N.H.
Michael Mascaro
East Windsor, Conn.
Cheryl Robinson
Middletown, R.I.
Lori Sendroff
Warren, R.I.
Doll E. Daze Project & Museum, Inc.
Mansfield, Mass.
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island
Johnston, R.I.
The Dream Program, Inc.
Winooski, Vt.
The Professional Center for Child Development Andover, Mass.
Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries
Boston, Mass.
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, Conn.
Melanoma Education Foundation
Peabody, Mass.
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Attleboro, Mass.
Our Place
Manchester, N.H.
Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc.
Cranston, R.I.
New England Handicapped Sports Association Newport, N.H.
Bridges
Nashua, N.H.
Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters
Hartford, Conn.
Turning Around Ministries
Newport, R.I.
Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter
Bristol, R.I.
$25,000 Grand Prize Winner
Joe Markarian
Watertown, Mass.
--PATRIOTS--