Weymouth Volunteer Honored at Patriots Halftime Ceremony

A Weymouth volunteer was honored by the New England Patriots during a surprise halftime ceremony on Sunday.

Tara Balan of Project 351 was one of the 15 “Patriots Difference Makers of the Week” through the New England Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism initiative.

Kraft and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation commemorated the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative and the volunteers at Gillette Stadium.

The initiative honored a nonprofit organization each week from September to December. It focused on different volunteer areas such as youth, education, healthy eating, animals, bullying and more.

The Weymouth nonprofit Project 351 was the first organization to be honored in the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative. The organization helps youth bring positive change to the community through service, leadership, development and friendship.

The initiative recognized a “Patriots Difference Maker of the Week” each week of the initiative and all of the Difference Makers were honored during Sunday’s halftime ceremony. Fourteen difference makers were granted $5,000 in their names to their nonprofits at the halftime ceremony.

The grand prize Difference Maker winner was Kevin Watson of Boston. He received a $20,000 grant to the nonprofit Pine Street Inn in his name.

“These volunteers have shown a genuine commitment to bettering our communities,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft in a statement. “Each of them saw a need and have been steadfast in their dedication to helping others. It is incredible to hear their heartwarming stories of volunteering and we are pleased to once again honor them at our season finale. It is our hope that these grants will allow their respective nonprofits to continue to serve children and families across New England.”

Visit the Patriots website to find out more information about the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative.