MARBLEHEAD– The Kraft family and New England Patriots Foundation celebrated the 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners on June 3.
They recognized 26 volunteers for their contributions to the New England community at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In total, $275,000 in donations were distributed to the nonprofits represented by each volunteer. Twenty-five organizations each received $10,000, and THE BASE received this year’s grand prize of $25,000.
Reed Brockman of Marblehead was recognized as one of this year’s honorees and presented with a $10,000 donation for the Engineering Center Education Trust.
“This award means so much on several different levels,” Brockman said. “On a personal level, even though I would keep on doing what I have been doing for many years to come, it just feels nice to be recognized by the larger community, and especially by an organization named for such a wonderful community member as Myra Kraft – who was always looking for ways to bring opportunities to those that might not otherwise have them. While the kids we work with always show enthusiasm and appreciation for our efforts, we tend to hover well below the public radar, and we truly appreciate the Patriots Foundation for recognizing our work.”
Since 1998, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation have been recognizing volunteers for going above and beyond to give back to their communities through the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program. Formerly known as the Community Quarterback Awards, this volunteer recognition was renamed in 2011 in memory of Myra Kraft.
“This year, once again, we have seen an inspiring group of individuals put forward by nonprofits from across New England – people who demonstrate compassion, dedication, and the power of service,” said Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Patriots. “My late wife, Myra, of blessed memory, believed deeply in the importance of giving back and creating lasting change in the lives of others. It means so much to see our values reflected in these honorees, whose commitment to their communities exemplifies the Community MVP Awards.”
Gillette, a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots and a cornerstone partner of the Patriots Foundation, served as the presenting sponsor for this year’s program. On hand to congratulate the award winners were Patriots, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett and Gillette’s VP of Communications & Community Affairs, Global Grooming, Kara Buckley.
“We are honored to help celebrate the 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVPs – individuals whose tireless service and compassion make our communities stronger every day,” Buckley said. “Their stories are a powerful reminder of the profound impact that acts of courage and generosity can have on those around us. At Gillette, we believe in celebrating those who bring out the best in others, and we are proud to partner with the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation to recognize these remarkable volunteers who embody that ideal.”
Brockman began volunteering 25 years ago by running a model bridge competition for a pre-engineering program which led to an annual event with hundreds of students participating every year. Through his volunteerism, Brockman has encouraged thousands of young people to pursue an engineering education by creating fun activities that incorporate engineering lessons.
“Each year, not only do the costs of running civil engineering educational outreach activities increase, but the number of students wanting to participate also grows, as do the number of opportunities in which we would like to participate,” Brockman said. “Around 25 years ago, when I first got involved with the Boston Society for Civil Engineers (BSCES/ASCE) and later with TECET’s outreach efforts, I vowed that we would have been a playing field that was completely even, and that meant that we would never charge any of the students, teachers, parents or programs anything. This award to TECET will not only provide us some financial security but will help further spread the word of the work we are doing.”
The 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range from 21-94 years old and represent all six New England states. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including education, animals, sports, food insecurity, grief support, healthcare, military, homelessness, mental health, and more.
Since its inception, the Myra Kraft Community Awards program has recognized more than 525 volunteers and donated more than $4 million to support nonprofit organizations across New England.
The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received close to 300 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their outstanding volunteers. Nominations open every February and the awards are open to all nonprofit organizations in the New England region.
For more information on the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards, visit patriots.com/community.
