Somerville Resident Receives 2022 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award

BROOKLINE, MA — A Somerville residents has been named a 2022 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winner and received a grant for the organization she represents, according to the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation.

Grace Chen is one of 26 volunteers who were recognized during an awards luncheon at Gillette Stadium on June 8. Chen was presented with a $10,000 donation for Camp Casco, which provides free camps and services for childhood cancer survivors and siblings in New England.

Formerly known as the Community Quarterback Awards, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program was renamed in 2011 in memory of Myra Kraft. For the past 25 years, the program has been recognizing volunteers for going above and beyond to give back to their communities.

“Of all the community initiatives we support through the Patriots Foundation, this was always Myra’s favorite and I am proud that we continue to honor her legacy of volunteerism by recognizing the amazing work of dozens of volunteers each year,” Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a statement. “She loved meeting all of the honorees and hearing their heartwarming stories of volunteerism. There are so many people doing great things in our communities. It restores all faith in humanity. We enjoyed reviewing this year’s applications and selecting the 26 dedicated individuals that are helping to make the world a better place.”

Gillette, a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots and a cornerstone partner of the Patriots Foundation, served as the presenting sponsor for this year’s program. On hand to congratulate the award winners were Robert Kraft, President of Kraft Family Philanthropies Josh Kraft, Patriots, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett, and John Claughton, VP of Grooming North America at Procter & Gamble.

"It's an incredible honor to receive the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for my work at Camp Casco,” said Chen in a statement. “This award means we can continue offering amazing summer camp experiences for childhood cancer patients and survivors and creating resources for the entire family.”

Chen wears many hats at Camp Casco, serving on the Board of Directors, planning fun and memorable activities for every camp session, and remaining a top fundraiser year after year. Most importantly, she is a favorite amongst the campers and brings a magical camp spirit that ensures a positive experience for all children.

“I've been involved with the Casco family for eight amazing years, and it's been the greatest and most rewarding experience of my life,” she said. “I'm so grateful for Camp Casco for allowing me to be a part of their journey. I can honestly and easily say that camp makes my heart happy, and to be recognized for being a part of this fantastic organization that truly cares about the children and families we serve is the greatest honor I could ever receive."

The 2022 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range from 15 to 85 years old and represent every New England state. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including education, domestic violence prevention, healthcare, homelessness, mentoring, and military support.

Since its inception, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program has recognized more than 450 volunteers and donated more than $3 million to support nonprofit organizations across New England.

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received more than 250 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their outstanding volunteers. Nominations open each spring and the awards are open to all nonprofit organizations in the New England region.

For more information on the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards, visit www.patriots.com/community.

Source: Somerville, MA Patch