Vince Lombardi Trophy Makes Special Appearance at Foxborough YMCA

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Vince Lombardi trophy had one more surprise appearance after the recent tour of the Foxborough Public Schools.

On May 4, more than 50 local families of students with special education needs got the opportunity to celebrate the Patriots fifth Super Bowl championship during a mini rally held at the Kraft Family Center of the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Invensys Foxboro Branch. The rally, hosted by the Foxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), the Hockomock Area YMCA and the New England Patriots, gave Foxborough students and members of the YMCA who experience sensory processing challenges and sensitivities the chance to have their pictures taken with the Lombardi Trophy, Pat Patriot and Patriots Cheerleaders.

“I am so thankful for the New England Patriots and Hockomock Area YMCA for helping to put this event together for these kids,” Erin Bose, parent leader of Foxborough SEPAC, said in a release. “It means so much to have a safe space for them to experience all of the excitement of a Patriots Super Bowl championship with their families. Pat Patriot and the cheerleaders were wonderful interacting with the children."

Members of the YMCA’s Volunteerism through Inclusive Partnerships (VIP) Club also participated in the rally. The VIP Club, a program created in 2016, provides opportunities for young adults with and without disabilities to volunteer and give back to their community. These young men and women proudly represent the Y’s Integration Initiative year round and volunteer at YMCA events like Healthy Kids Day at Patriot Place and the Y’s 5K races.

“We have been so fortunate to have the New England Patriots and the Kraft family as key community partners with our YMCA,” says Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “The smiles on the faces of our Integration Initiative participants and their families as they got to experience the Lombardi Trophy made for a very special evening at the Kraft Family Center, creating memories that they will have for a very long time.”

Bose approached the Patriots about hosting a mini rally for these individuals because they are often unable to attend large events or parades due to sensory processing disorders.

“This was a great opportunity to create lifelong memories for these wonderful fans and their families, so we were thrilled to team up with Foxborough SEPAC and the Hockomock Area YMCA to make it happen,” said Jeremie Smith, manager of business development and external affairs for the New England Patriots. “Seeing the kids – and many of the adults – light up with excitement when they saw the Lombardi Trophy up close for the first time was so rewarding and showed how meaningful this experience was for each of them.”

The Kraft family donated appearances by the Lombardi Trophy, Pat Patriot and the Patriots Cheerleaders, along with Super Bowl LI champion team photos for each participant to take home. The Hockomock Area YMCA donated use of its Teen Center and Sarah Driscoll, co-founder and foundation director of Spectrum Inspired, donated her services to professionally photograph each participant with the Lombardi Trophy.

A press release from the New England Patriots, Hockomock YMCA, and Foxborough SEPAC was used in this article.

Images Courtesy of Jeremie Smith