Kraft Family, NE Patriots Award $5,000 to Laura Dennison of Framingham

Annually, the Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards place a spotlight on those who give their time to help others and exemplify leadership, dedication and a 
commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism.

The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation host the awards program as part of the ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative in honor of Myra Kraft’s example of being a lifelong volunteer. 

Last month, 26 volunteers were recognized for their contributions at a luncheon and awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium.

Each Community MVP received grants for their respective nonprofit organizations. Fifteen New England-based organizations were presented with $5,000 grants in honor of their volunteers’ work. Ten others received grants of $10,000 and one grand prize winner was presented $25,000. 

Laura Dennison of Framingham and Partners for Youth with Disabilities was one of 15 $5,000 third place winners.
 
She has been a dedicated volunteer since being paired with her mentee in 2008 and they were quickly faced with the challenge of a long distance relationship.

Dennison was accepted to graduate school in Alabama but did not let that stop her from connecting with her mentee. The two spoke regularly on the phone and spent time together during Dennison’s school breaks. Upon graduating, she moved back home and has since become the light of her mentee’s life.

Growing up with cerebral palsy, Dennison is training to compete in the Paralympics and has served as an inspiration to her mentee.

“Every year, we ask New England nonprofit organizations to nominate one volunteer who they consider their MVPs,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “This year, we received a record number of nominations from over 400 nonprofits. Their stories are heartwarming and inspirational and narrowing the field to 26 winners gets more difficult every year. As a lifelong volunteer herself, this was always Myra’s favorite event. I am so glad that her legacy continues to live through the great work of all the Myra Kraft Community MVPs.”

On hand to congratulate the award winners was Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Charitable Foundation President Joshua Kraft, Pro Football and Patriots Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo and Patriots alumni and three-time 
Super Bowl Champion Joe Andruzzi.

The 2014 MVPs represent all six New England states, a variety of nonprofit organizations and range in ages from 13 to 93 years old. Nominations open each spring and for the most up-to-date information, visit www.patriots.com/community.

Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, linebacker Jerod Mayo, Andre Tippett and Joe Andruzzi congratulated the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award $5,000 winner Framingham's Laura Dennison from Partners for Youth with Disabilities for her outstanding volunteerism.