New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, his family and the Patriots organization need to be applauded for their recent announcement concerning philanthropy.
Kraft’s wife, Myra Hiatt Kraft, died a little more than three weeks ago after battling cancer. During her life, she was a consummate philanthropist donating millions of dollars and hundreds of hours of her personal time to various charities. She did it all without expecting recognition or gratitude. She did it to help and because she cared for the wellbeing of other people.
Her funeral was a reminder of just how popular and respected she was, when more than 2,000 people packed a Boston synagogue to pay their final respects.
On Thursday, Robert Kraft did the one thing he could do to truly show his respect and love for his wife when he announced that he would continue, along with the Patriots, Myra’s philanthropic efforts.
“I don’t know that she understood the global reach of what she did and how she impacted people. We have to keep that legacy going, and we will continue to do it as a family,” Kraft told the Associated Press.
The Patriots players are honoring her by wearing a black patch just above their hearts on their uniform jerseys with Myra’s initials “MHK.” That is a nice gesture and shows their respect. Robert Kraft said he will never remove his, in honor of his late wife.
Continuing her work, however, is the biggest show of gratitude for a life cut short.
Myra Kraft worked tirelessly making sure that the world’s underprivileged were also looked after. She came from a life of wealth, but instilled into her family values of helping and caring.
It didn’t matter to Myra, however, if she were related to a person in order to teach to them how to be charitable.
During the past decade, she made sure many New England Patriots players and coaches also understood the importance of giving back as several former players and current players have said they now dedicate their lives to sharing because of her.
Robert Kraft has stated many times since his wife’s death that she was his true “sweetheart,” saying that she proposed to him on their first date when she was 19 and he was 20. Fifty years later, he couldn’t have been happier with his true love, he said.
Continuing her legacy demonstrates just how much he still loves Myra Kraft. It also shows the true spirit of an organization that is showing how much she, in turn, meant to it and to the greater community.
Myra Kraft’s generosity went beyond philanthropy. While she lay dying from cancer during the NFL’s 4 and 1/2 month lockout, she understood the importance of settling the turmoil.
She gave her blessing to her husband to attend the negotiations and to end the lockout.
“She knew how important this game was to America, so she gave me a pass,” Robert Kraft said.
Myra Kraft died at the age of 68 on a hot summer day in July. Through her husband’s dedication to the causes she held dear, however, she will continue to live.
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