FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (March 25, 2013) - The Kraft family, New England Patriots Charitable Foundation (NEPCF) and the New England Patriots Alumni Club (NEPAC) will bring their signature "Football for YOU" one-day free youth clinic to Newtown, Conn. on May 18. The clinic kicks off the first of seven clinics that will take place throughout New England this summer and marks the first time the clinic will visit Connecticut.
"Our hearts broke for the Newtown community and their families as we learned of the tragedy this past December," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "We admire the Newtown community for their strength and look forward to continuing our support."
During the clinic, current and former Patriots players will gather at the Newtown High School football field to share their football expertise with hundreds of Newtown youth in skill stations including blocking, receiving and punting. The day will also include an ongoing Patriots-themed activity zone that will feature food, games and prizes for the Newtown community to enjoy.
Following the clinic, participants and community members will join Patriots representatives in honoring the community of Newtown and those affected by the tragedy during a program and commemorative ceremony.
Clinic participation is free of charge and same-day registrations are welcome. Each child will receive a T-shirt and Patriots gift bag. Registration will open on April 22 at www.patriots.com/community. All "Football for YOU" youth will participate as part of the NFL's Play 60 initiative, which promotes healthy living among young fans. The Newtown High School football field is located at 12 Berkshire Road in Newtown, Conn.
The May 18 football clinic signals the Patriots' ongoing support of the Newtown community in the wake of the December 2012 tragedy. The Kraft family donated $25,000 to help those affected by the tragedy and privately spread some holiday cheer to a few Newtown families in need. In addition, the Patriots underlined their support in several ways during the Dec. 16 Patriots vs. 49ers home game. In-game remembrances included each player wearing a decal on their helmet, each cheerleader and the Pat Patriot mascot wearing black armbands and a special 26-second moment of silence with 26 flares launched one at a time. The players wore the decals on their helmets in remembrance of the victims for the remainder of the year. The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation also hosted 13 Sandy Hook first responders, who were honored on the field in personalized Patriots jerseys prior to participating in team introductions. For nearly 20 years, the Kraft family has had a unique connection to the Newtown community through owning and operating Rand-Whitney Newtown, a manufacturer of corrugated boxes, located two miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School that has several long-standing employees who are Newtown residents.
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit entity created by the Kraft family to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants and the donation of signed memorabilia to a variety of charitable causes, and from Patriots players who offer their direct support by appearing at charity functions throughout the year. The Foundation's primary goal is to support programs that aid the youth and families of New England while underscoring the Kraft family's deep commitment to philanthropic activities in the community. Over the past 19 years, the Foundation has made millions of dollars in donations to thousands of nonprofit organizations throughout New England and has partnered with numerous community groups, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, the United Way and a host of other New England charities. The Foundation actively supports nonprofit groups focusing on health, education, youth fitness and community enrichment while also implementing its own programs in those areas of focus. In seasons to come, the Foundation's Celebrate Volunteerism initiative aims to recognize deserving volunteers and inspire others to follow Myra Kraft's example of becoming a lifelong volunteer. For more information about Celebrate Volunteerism visit www.patriots.com/community.
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ALUMNI CLUB
The New England Patriots Alumni Club provides an opportunity for former New England Patriots players to remain actively involved with one another, the Patriots organization and the community. The organization's mission is to support and fund youth and high school sports programs throughout New England with an emphasis on football. To learn more, visit www.patriots.com/alumni.
