The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation: Helping Others in a Variety of Ways

When a football fan thinks of the New England Patriots, he might well think of excellence. After all the team has won three Super Bowl titles and is currently bidding for the first perfect season in the NFL since the implementation of the 16 game season. The New England Patriots and the team's make take a back seat to no other team when it comes to football success, but the team also is second to none when it comes to its charities and how it helps those in the local community.

The team is involved in giving tickets to Boys and Girls Club members of Boston, a blood donor center, a cancer institute, various educational institutions, the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, and other charities. Involvement extends from the team owner down to players.

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Incorporated attempts to assist charitable organizations and programs in supporting educational, family, and health initiatives throughout New England. The Patriots help the charities through financial grants, tickets and Patriots memorabilia to be sold at fundraisers, and appearances by players at charity and educational events. The charity was founded by team owner Robert Kraft after he purchased the team in 1994.

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation assists the Megan Memorial Goodwill Industries. That branch of the Goodwill Industries provides on-the-job-training to 1,500 people with physical and cognitive disabilities, assisted 7,000 individuals in finding jobs, worked with 600 employers, been an employer itself, provided educational training to 500 young people, given Thanksgiving meals, and assisted people in other ways.

The team's charity traditionally assists the Salvation Army in providing hundreds of Thanksgiving meals and toys to those in the community.