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The following was submitted by the Patriots Foundation:
On Tuesday, June 3, the Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation celebrated the 2025 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 THE BASE 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.
“This year, once again, we have seen an inspiring group of individuals put forward by nonprofits from across New England – people who demonstrate compassion, dedication, and the power of service,” said Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Patriots. “My late wife, Myra, of blessed memory, believed deeply in the importance of giving back and creating lasting change in the lives of others. It means so much to see our values reflected in these honorees, whose commitment to their communities exemplifies the Community MVP Awards.”
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 were 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.
“We are honored to help celebrate the 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVPs—individuals whose tireless service and compassion make our communities stronger every day,” said Buckley. “Their stories are a powerful reminder of the profound impact that acts of courage and generosity can have on those around us. At Gillette, we believe in celebrating those who bring out the best in others and we are proud to partner with the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation to recognize these remarkable volunteers who embody that ideal.”
Winchester resident Barry Star was recognized as one of this year’s honorees and presented with a $10,000 donation for Mass Teacher Resources.
“I am deeply appreciative to the Kraft Family, the New England Patriots Foundation and the Gillette Company for recognizing Mass Teacher Resources (MTR) and me by supporting our mission to empower educators in Title 1 schools across Massachusetts,” said Star. “It is an honor to accept this award, named for Myra Kraft, who personified making the world a better place through her leadership and charitable work.”
Mass Teacher Resources was founded by Star after seeing a need for economically disadvantaged schools to access the resources needed to create a better learning environment for students.
After starting the organization in his garage, Star has since created the Free Store with school supplies and resources for teachers, which has served 196 teachers from 51 schools in 20 communities, distributing to more than 5,300 students to date.
“At a time when teachers are facing unprecedented challenges, this recognition highlights the critical importance of investing in education, particularly the equitable access to education. The benefactors behind the Myra Kraft award understand that by supporting teachers, we are ultimately investing in the future of our children and our communities,” said Star. “Their commitment to MTR provides us with the momentum to continue our work in providing essential resources and support for educators working in tough environments. Teachers are the true heroes shaping the next generation to make the world a better place for all.”
The 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range from 21 to 94 years old and represent all six New England states. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including education, animals, sports, food insecurity, grief support, healthcare, military, homelessness, mental health and more.
Since its inception, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program has recognized more than 525 volunteers and donated more than $4 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, visit www.patriots.com/community.
