Kraft family pledges $1 million in donations in effort to ‘end systemic racism’
The Kraft family donations are aimed at “fighting for equity, working to end systemic racism, and creating meaningful change in our community.”
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Team owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, with his son Jonathan Kraft at his side, holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as he addresses the audiance after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesBy 98.5 The Sports Hub Staff
The New England Patriots announced via Twitter on Friday that the Kraft family is pledging to donate $1 million over 10 monthly donations to "local grassroots organizations." You can watch the full announcement in the video above.
"Our eyes, ears and hearts are open," the Patriots tweeted in the video. The team says it will make 10 donations of $100,000 each over the next 10 months aimed at "fighting for equity, working to end systemic racism, and creating meaningful change in our community." Patriots players will collaborate with the Kraft Group in the effort. Organizations will also be invited to speak to Kraft management as part of the campaign.
Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore became one of the players to speak out in the wake of the death of George Floyd, which has sparked nationwide protests, including in Boston and around Mass. Gilmore said "I am Michael Brown Jr." in the video, referencing the African American teen whom police shot dead in Ferguson, Mo. in 2014. The incident sparked over a year of unrest in the region.
The Kraft family also took a lead role in supporting Mass. through the COVID-19 crisis, collaborating with governor Charlie Baker and other influential international business and political figures to deliver nearly 2 million N95 surgical masks to the United States.
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