Bottom Line Massachusetts Volunteer Named Patriots Difference Maker of the Week

Boston (Oct. 2, 2014) – Bottom Line Massachusetts, the local site and headquarters of a national nonprofit helping low-income and first-generation students get in to college and graduate, is celebrating education volunteerism with the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

The Patriots are honoring Bottom Line volunteer Michele Scavongelli as their “Patriots Difference Maker of the Week.” She was recognized at a Julie’s Family Learning Program event on October 1.

For the week of Sept. 28, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is working in cooperation with Bottom Line Massachusetts, Boston Partners in Education, and Science Club for Girls to highlight dedicated volunteers and promote the importance of their efforts. The overarching theme of the week is empowerment through education.

Education volunteers are an important driver in helping end the cycle of poverty. First-generation students have less support than their higher-income peers to get into and through college. The Patriots and Bottom Line know that the more support children receive from the start, the better chance they have at reaching the end zone – college graduation.

Bottom Line this year celebrated the college graduation of its 1,000th student, and improved the overall graduation rate of Bottom Line students to 78 percent, well above the national average.

In addition to volunteering with Bottom Line, including serving on its Board of Directors, Michele is a mother of seven, an attorney and child-empowered legal advocate. Michele has raised over $50,000 as part of the Bottom Line Boston Marathon team – funds that ensure that first-generation, low-income students from the City of Boston have an opportunity to go to college. In fact, one in four college-bound seniors from the City of Boston receive support from Bottom Line during the college application process, throughout college or both.

She is a firm believer that her volunteerism is helping disadvantaged students realize the dream of earning a college degree.

“The incredible bravery and resilience of so many Bottom Line students in the face of adversity makes my running aches and pains, and actually any problem I face, pale in comparison,” Michele said. “I believe that education can help these students transform their lives, achieve great things, and help lift them out of future generations of poverty.”

Michele has also mentored countless Bottom Line students by helping with resume building, conducting mock interviews and participating in student roundtable discussions. She is selfless with her time and talents, and has also given pro-bono legal service to Bottom Line.

She also volunteers her time to the Youth Advocacy Foundation, and specifically The Education/Law Project, also known as Ed Law Project, working to ensure that Massachusetts’ highest risk children stay in school.

Throughout the football season, the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative will share the stories of dedicated volunteers, build awareness, and identify and educate others about volunteer opportunities.

ABOUT BOTTOM LINE – MASSACHUSETTS

Bottom Line was founded in Boston in 1997 to help disadvantaged students get in to college, graduate from college, and go far in life. What started as an organization supporting 25 Boston high school seniors has grown to support more than 2,300 high school seniors and college students from Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts. Today, Bottom Line is a national nonprofit that serves thousands of college students through its full-scale college retention program for low-income and first-generation urban students. With Bottom Line’s support, students across the country are earning college degrees, beginning successful careers, and raising themselves and their families out of poverty.

Learn more at www.bottomline.org, @BottomLineMA and at facebook.com/bottomlineinc.

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 20 years, the Foundation has made millions of dollars in donations to thousands of non-profit 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 non-profit groups focusing on health, education, youth fitness and community enrichment while also implementing its own programs in those areas of focus. The Foundation’s Celebrate Volunteerism initiative aims to recognize deserving volunteers and inspire others to follow the Kraft family’s example of becoming a life-long volunteer. For more information about “Celebrate Volunteerism” visit www.patriots.com/community.

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