News

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES NEW HOPE VOLUNTEER WITH “PATRIOTS DIFFERENCE MAKER OF THE WEEK” AWARD

Volunteer Selected For Patriots’ “Celebrate Volunteerism” Initiative In Honor of Myra Kraft Foxboro, MA – A New Hope, Inc. volunteer called Breanna was named “Patriots Difference Maker of the Week,” as part of The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s recently launched “Celebrate Volunteerism” initiative. The Foundation is recognizing Breanna this week (October 23-29) and one outstanding non-profit volunteer each week throughout the Patriots football season. The Kraft Family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation established the initiative to honor the late Myra Kraft’s lifetime commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy.

Each week throughout the football season, the Foundation will focus on volunteer opportunities at local non-profits, sharing examples of dedicated volunteers and building awareness of the need for volunteering.The goal is to inspire New Englanders to follow Myra Kraft’s example of becoming a life-long volunteer. This week, New Hope, Inc., which serves 54 Massachusetts communities in its mission of “Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence in Our Community,” and its exemplary volunteer, Breanna, will be featured in several publications including the Patriots website, newspaper and game-day magazines.

Breanna began volunteering with New Hope in June 2010. Since then, she has volunteered regularly for the agency, working within the courts as part of the SAFEPLAN program, which assists survivors with navigating the intimidating process of obtaining restraining orders needed to keep them safe. She also assists with New Hope’s SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) program, traveling to local hospitals to offer support and information to survivors dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence. She spends countless hours in emergency rooms supporting, advocating for, and providing information and resources to victims. She also assists with New Hope’s fundraising events, organizes drives and collections of various donations and assists the non-profit with its outreach and awareness-building events.

According to New Hope’s Executive Director and President, Kimberly Thomas, “Our team here at New Hope, Inc. is absolutely delighted that Breanna was selected as a Patriots Difference Maker of the Week. We can’t think of a better way to acknowledge all of her hard work and dedication to survivors and to New Hope’s mission.” Thomas continued: “Breanna is extremely passionate and compassionate. She is invaluable to a number of New Hope’s programs and her dedication is appreciated and admired.”

Kimberly Thomas added, “On behalf of New Hope, Inc., the survivors of domestic and sexual violence that we serve, and all of our wonderful volunteers such as Breanna, we would like to thank Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation for making the time and effort to acknowledge Breanna’s outstanding work as a New Hope volunteer and for promoting the importance of Violence and Bullying Prevention Awareness this week. Thomas continued, “Organizations like New Hope could not do our work without a solid base of volunteers. We can’t help but think of how proud and honored Myra Kraft would be that her family and the New England Patriots are continuing her inspiring legacy.”

Community members can join the Celebrate Volunteerism movement by pledging hours on the New England Patriots website (http://www.patriots.com/community/volunteerism), where they can print an official Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism certificate. Fans are then encouraged to submit photos holding their Celebrate Volunteerism certificate while participating in their volunteer work, and send them to CharitableEvents@patriots.com to be used on www.patriots.com and other various Patriots publications highlighting the Celebrate Volunteerism campaign..

New Hope, Inc.’s comprehensive domestic and sexual violence services include education and outreach on violence and bullying prevention, a 24-hour domestic and sexual violence hotline (1-800-323-HOPE), two emergency shelters for survivors fleeing violent homes, counseling services for adults and children, a supervised visitation center, court advocacy for survivors, safety planning, a transitional living program, batterer intervention services and more. For more information on New Hope, Inc. and volunteering opportunities, visit www.new-hope.org and www.facebook.com/NewHopeInc