FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – On Thursday, June 6, the Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation celebrated the 2024 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners. They recognized 26 volunteers for their contributions to the New England community at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In total, $275,000 in donations were distributed to the nonprofits represented by each volunteer. Twenty-five organizations each received $10,000 and Ricky, Inc. received this year's grand prize of $25,000.
Since 1998, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation have been recognizing volunteers for going above and beyond to give back to their communities through the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program. Formerly known as the Community Quarterback Awards, this volunteer recognition was renamed in 2011 in memory of Myra Kraft.
"Every year, nonprofit organizations across New England put forth candidates that demonstrate what volunteerism and giving back truly is and who represent the very best of our community," said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Patriots. "My late wife Myra, of blessed memory, was passionate about giving back and making a difference in people's lives. I am proud to see her legacy of volunteerism upheld through these awards, celebrating those who selflessly serve their communities as true Community MVPs."
Gillette, a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots and a cornerstone partner of the Patriots Foundation, served as the presenting sponsor for this year's program. On hand to congratulate the award winners werePresident of the New England Patriots Foundation Josh Kraft; Patriots, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett; and Gillette's VP of Communications & Community Affairs, Global Grooming, Kara Buckley.
"This program is incredibly important to our family, it's one of our favorites that we do each year," said Josh Kraft, President of the New England Patriots Foundation. "It is our honor to read hundreds of stories about volunteers who are committed to making their community a better place. We are privileged to once again partner with our good friends at Gillette to recognize these outstanding volunteers."
"These 26 volunteers and the nonprofit organizations they support are making a profound impact within our local community," said Kara Buckley, Vice President of Communications & Community Affairs at Gillette. "We are grateful to the Kraft Family and New England Patriots for recognizing them with this meaningful award. As a brand, we have long championed the significance of inspiring role models, and these Myra Kraft Community MVPs exemplify the very best of the best."
Richard Giacoppo of Norwood, Mass. was selected as this year's $25,000 grand prize winner for his volunteer efforts at Ricky, Inc.
"It is an honor to be selected for this award from such distinguished and important organizations," said Richard. "They are legendary in New England for their compassion and generosity towards nonprofit organizations and persons in need. I am truly humbled by this and honored to be a recipient of such an outstanding and recognizable award."
After losing his eldest son Ricky to an accidental overdose in 2019, Richard founded Ricky, Inc. to give relief to those suffering from substance use disorder and homelessness. He trains individuals on the proper use of the lifesaving spray Narcan, having distributed more than 550 doses to people and organizations. He frequently visits the area known as Methadone Mile in Boston, where he puts himself at risk to speak about sobriety and distribute more than 2,300 backpacks filled with essential items. In 2023, he helped 32 individuals through Ricky Inc.'s sponsorship program, providing almost $30,000 towards first month's rent to certified sober homes.
In April 2023, Richard suffered another unfathomable tragedy when they lost their youngest son Nicholas. Despite the pain and suffering that comes with losing not one but two children, Richard has been able to keep his determination to help others and works hard every day to honor his sons.
"The most important aspect of this award is that this donation will help us to reach many more people in crisis and allow us to continue our mission of helping those persons experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health concerns," said Richard. "I do this to keep the memory of my sons Ricky & Nicholas alive and do something positive that they would be proud of. My real reward is seeing and hearing from the individuals on the streets whose lives that we do effect when we encounter them in their environment."
The 2024 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range from 14 to 85 years old and represent four of the six New England states. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including education, food insecurity, grief support, healthcare, homelessness, mental health, violence prevention and more.
Since its inception, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program has recognized more than 500 volunteers and donated more than $3.75 million to support nonprofit organizations across New England.
The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received close to 300 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their outstanding volunteers. Nominations open every February and the awards are open to all nonprofit organizations in the New England region.
For more information on the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards, please visit www.patriots.com/community.
!Below is a complete list of the 2024 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners:
| First and Last Name | Hometown | Organization | Organization Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marie Boutin | Cumberland, R.I. | MAE Organization, Inc. | Cranston, R.I. |
| Mick Brunache | Hyde Park, Mass. | NXT ERA PANTHERS | Roxbury, Mass. |
| Natalie Cafeteiro | Dracut, Mass. | Adam Keenan Foundation | Lowell, Mass. |
| Kyra Conciatori | Boston, Mass. | Soccer Without Borders | East Boston, Mass. |
| Richard Giacoppo | Norwood, Mass. | Ricky, Inc. | Norwood, Mass. |
| Bryan Grillo | Watertown, Mass. | Association of Blind Citizens Boston Renegades | Holbrook, Mass. |
| Linda Holtslander | Peaks Island, Maine | Preble Street | Portland, Maine |
| Joan LeMay | Derby, Conn. | The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services | North Haven, Conn. |
| Steve Lepow | Longmeadow, Mass. | Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts | Springfield, Mass. |
| Christine E. Margulies | North Easton, Mass. | Schools on Wheels of Massachusetts | East Bridgewater, Mass. |
| Nina Skolsky Metz | Holyoke, Mass. | Cancer Connection | Northampton, Mass. |
| Donna Moore | Cherry Valley, Mass. | Project New Hope, Inc. | Worcester, Mass. |
| Alisha Neal | Buzzards Bay, Mass. | Angel Babies | Buzzards Bay, Mass. |
| Julie Norton | Wayland, Mass. | Eliza J. Norton Foundation | Wayland, Mass. |
| Tanya Oliveira | Attleboro, Mass. | Love Life Now Foundation | Avon, Mass. |
| Gail Pryce | Oakham, Mass. | Dismas House of Massachusetts | Worcester, Mass. |
| Dale Robinson | Randolph, Mass. | No More Murder National Organization | Randolph, Mass. |
| Virginia Ryan | Boston, Mass. | Haley House | Boston, Mass. |
| Alan Sauer | Vernon, Conn. | The Cornerstone Foundation, Inc. | Vernon, Conn. |
| Glenn Shapiro | Longmeadow, Mass. | KodiakCare | Simsbury, Conn. |
| Alan Simpson | Woburn, Mass. | The Children’s Room | Arlington, Mass. |
| Michael Thompson | Providence, R.I. | Coaching4Change | Taunton, Mass. |
| Ciro Valiente | Stoughton, Mass. | First Literacy | Boston, Mass. |
| Carol White | Peabody, Mass. | Cycling Without Age | Peabody, Mass. |
| Angela Whitten | Wells, Maine | Stay; For Life | Wells, Maine |
| Connor Wright | Lynnfield, Mass. | Connor’s Kindness Project | Lynnfield, Mass. |
