JOE ANDRUZZI
In 2002, Joe paid for 100 New York Firefighters to be bussed up and to attend the New York Jets vs. New England Patriots @ Gillette Stadium. Joe, whose brothers are New York City Firefighters, has been extremely involved in fundraising for 9/11 efforts. Joe served as a Muscle Team Buddy for the Boston Muscular Dystrophy Association, providing support to children with MD.
Joe served as spokesman for the New England Association of Fire marshals, rallying effort for the work that they do.
Joe and his wife Jen organized a trip for 200 inner city kids to come to Gillette Stadium and get toys the week before Christmas. This event, done through the Salvation Army, was attended by Joe's teammates.
Andruzzi is one of the most generous Patriots players in terms of volunteering for most team-sponsored charity events, including annual holiday turkey give-away, golf tournaments, and countless weekly public appearances.
TROY BROWN
Pro-Bowler Troy has participated the annual ROSE Fund Dinner, several NE Patriots Charitable golf tournaments and kickoff gala dinners.
For the past few years, he has been involved in the NomarBowl to support the Nomar5 Fund.
He also took part in the Fifth Annual Joshua Frase Foundation Muscle Dream Team Bash.
This past summer Troy held his first Troy Brown Football Camp.
Troy was the national spokesman for the United Way, and led many kickoff events for the United Way here in Boston.
He attended the Salvation Army's annual Christmas party at Gillette Stadium and took 200 underprivileged inner city kids shopping for Christmas, who otherwise wouldn't have been able to.
TED JOHNSON
Johnson sits on the board of the Penikese Island School for Boys, where juvenile delinquent teenagers go to learn trades, as well as build positive character and values. Ted visits the island regularly and paid for 30 of the kids to come from the island on a bus to attend a game.
Ted can also be found at Children's Hospital where he often visits with children in the cancer ward.
RICK LYLE
Rick participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Associations Annual Muscle Team fundraiser in 2003, which paired professional athletes with children who suffer from the disease. Lyle not only joined the kids for an evening or fun, but he also donated funds to send two children to a special MDA summer camp in Canton, Mass. during the summer of 2003.
Rick is very active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, traveling the country and speaking to groups about faith in their lives.
DAMIEN WOODY
Pro-Bowler Woody was the spokesman for Junior Achievement of New England.
Damien hosted a PSA for schools in New England (showing them the different jobs people can grow up to do); he participated in their fundraising efforts and still does today.
Last year, Damien presented more than 4,500 cans of Campbell's Chunky Soup to the Greater Boston Food Bank as part of Chunky's NFL Tackling Hunger Program.
PLAYER FOUNDATIONS
LAWYER MILLOY The Lawyer Milloy Foundation
In 2002, Pro Bowler Milloy established the Lawyer Milloy Foundation, which supports youth development programs, families affected by drug abuse and programs for battered women.
In its first year, Lawyer's foundation sponsored a charity event at F1 Boston and a fund raising celebrity basketball game, among other initiatives. Lawyer looks forward to raising funds and helping underprivileged inner city families break the cycle of poverty and abuse. After his first fundraiser, Lawyer made a $10,000 donation to Children's Hospital in Boston to pay for computers for patients there.
LONIE PAXTON Active Force Foundation
In 2003, Lonie established the Active Force Foundation, a non-profit organization that designs and donates special sports equipment to physically challenged athletes. Information on Lonie's Foundation can be found at ActiveForce.org
AFF's goal is to design and engineer high quality sports equipment, which will allow people with disabilities to experience a healthier and more active way of living.
As AFF evolves, it intends to provide cutting edge sports equipment needed for a variety of activities for athletes of all levels. ActiveForce Foundation will create positive change and much needed expansion in the adaptive sports industry, which will foster improved self esteem, confidence, and more positive mental and physical health through active participation in physical activities and competition.
MATT LIGHT The Light Foundation
In February of 2003, Matt established the Light Foundation, a charity that awards scholarships to high school students in the places he has played football: his hometown of Greenville, Ohio, West Lafayette, Ind. and New England. Matt's foundation donated new weights, jerseys and equipment to his former high school team this past off-season.
Information on Matt's Foundation can be found on MattLight72.com
