Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft has been a prominent philanthropist in Massachusetts and across the country, donating to brain cancer research, American Red Cross relief efforts, local community development councils, and others. He also funded the construction of Gillette Stadium and was also instrumental in securing the passage of legislation to help disabled veterans. In recognition of his generosity and extraordinary commitment to philanthropy, he was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Medal of Philanthropy in 2006.
After graduating from Harvard University with an A.B., Mr. Kraft has been involved in philanthropic causes for nearly 40 years, having started his charitable organization to support the medical research of his late brother, Michael Kraft. The Kraft Family Foundation supports a myriad of charitable organizations, including the New England Aquarium; American Cancer Society; American Medical Women’s Association; American Red Cross; BUILD Boston Medical Center (comprehensive health care system); Jewish Hospital; MGH/Harvard Health Services—the largest hospital system in New England and the Boston Children’s Hospital.
Mr. Kraft has received more than 100 awards for community service, including the Thomas P. O’Neill Humanitarian Award from the Boston College Alumni Association, Catholic Charities Leadership in Service Award, Anti-Defamation League Humanitarian of the Year Award, and Jewish Humanitarian of the Year Award.
About Robert Kraft
He is the owner of the New England Patriots. He has a net worth of 4.8 billion dollars and is one of the wealthiest NFL team owners in the league.
Kraft was born to a Jewish family on November 6, 1942, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He attended Columbia University before transferring to UMass Amherst for his final years as an undergraduate in economics and finance.
During his time at UMass Amherst, Kraft worked part-time at the university’s student-run TV station, WUMB, while pursuing a career in professional football. Robert Kraft eventually helped found the New England Business Ventures Group Inc. in 1978.
In 1984, Kraft agreed to purchase the New England Patriots as part of a controversial deal backed by Lawyer Irving Younger. The agreement gave Kraft control of the team under NFL rules (for around a month until he assumed control of the Patriots).
Kraft made headlines in 2007 when he cut his players’ off-season practice by ten days to keep his star quarterback, Tom Brady, healthy. Brady responded by leading the team to a 16-0 regular season record before losing to the New York Giants on December 17. See this page for related information.
More about Kraft on https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/patriots-owner-robert-kraft-lends-team-plane-to-undefeated-university-of-rhode-island-football-team/
Robert Kraft has been a prominent philanthropist in Massachusetts and across the country, donating to brain cancer research, American Red Cross relief efforts, local community development councils, and others. He also funded the construction of Gillette Stadium and was also instrumental in securing the passage of legislation to help disabled veterans. In recognition of his…