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New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Recognizes DKH Volunteer Peter Deary as 2014 Myra Kraft Community MVP
New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Recognizes DKH Volunteer Peter Deary as 2014 Myra Kraft Community MVP
June 16, 2014
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Peter Deary of Abington, Conn. has been named as one of fifteen $5,000 third place winners in the 2014 New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards. Deary was honored for his dedication to raising funds to provide cancer screening and treatment to those in need throughout Northeastern Connecticut through the Day Kimball Deary Memorial Cancer Fund.
“It is an especially great honor to receive this award in Myra Kraft’s name for her wonderful, charitable works," Deary said. "I volunteer because I believe no one should go without cancer care.”
Pamela Watts, Director of Development at Day Kimball Healthcare added, “With Peter and the Patriots on our side, we feel we can be champions in the fight against cancer. Peter’s volunteerism for Day Kimball has truly contributed to saving lives.”
Deary established the Day Kimball Deary Memorial Cancer Fund in memory of his sister who died of breast cancer at the age of 23. Since then, he has volunteered tirelessly to provide support and raise important funds for cancer screenings. Having survived three bouts with cancer himself, Deary has never used the funds for his own benefit and continues to make a difference in the lives of others by helping to lighten the financial strain of cancer treatment for hundreds of families in the area.The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards place a spotlight on those who give their time to help others and exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism. Annually, the Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation host the awards program as part of the ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative in honor of Myra Kraft’s example of being a lifelong volunteer.
On June 9, 26 volunteers were recognized for their contributions at a luncheon and awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. Each Community MVP received grants for their respective nonprofit organizations. Fifteen New England based organizations were presented with $5,000 grants in honor of their volunteers’ work. Ten others received grants of $10,000 and one grand prize winner was presented $25,000.
“Every year, we ask New England nonprofit organizations to nominate one volunteer who they consider their MVPs,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “This year, we received a record number of nominations from over 400 nonprofits. Their stories are heartwarming and inspirational and narrowing the field to 26 winners gets more difficult every year. As a lifelong volunteer herself, this was always Myra’s favorite event. I am so glad that her legacy continues to live through the great work of all the Myra Kraft Community MVPs.”
On hand to congratulate the award winners was Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Charitable Foundation President Joshua Kraft, Pro Football and Patriots Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo and Patriots alumni and three-time Super Bowl Champion Joe Andruzzi.
The 2014 MVPs represent all six New England states, a variety of nonprofit organizations and range in ages from 13 to 93 years old. Nominations open each spring and for the most up-to-date information, visit www.patriots.com/community.
