Karen Coppola named a 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP

KRAFT FAMILY, PATRIOTS FOUNDATION AND GILLETTE DONATE $275,000 IN THE NAMES OF 2026 MYRA KRAFT COMMUNITY MVP AWARD WINNERS

Twenty-six volunteers were recognized during an awards luncheon at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 15

Karen Coppola of Georgetown, MA presented with $10,000 donation for It Takes A Herd Foundation Inc

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – On Tuesday, September 15, the Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation celebrated the 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners. They recognized 26 volunteers for their contributions to the New England community at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In total, $275,000 in donations were distributed to the nonprofits represented by each volunteer. Twenty-five organizations each received $10,000 and William’s Be Yourself Challenge received this year’s grand prize of $25,000.

Since 1998, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation have been recognizing volunteers for going above and beyond to give back to their communities through the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program.

“Throughout New England, extraordinary individuals are strengthening their communities through selfless acts of service,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Patriots. “My late wife, Myra, of blessed memory, believed that each of us has a responsibility to help others and leave our communities better than we found them. This year’s honorees embody that spirit through their compassion, generosity and unwavering commitment to those they serve. We are proud to recognize them with the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards and celebrate the meaningful difference they make every day.”

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 Patriots, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett and Gillette’s VP of Communications & Community Affairs, Global Grooming, Kara Buckley.

“We are honored to recognize this year’s Myra Kraft Community MVPs, whose generosity, dedication, and leadership help create stronger, more connected communities,” said Kara Buckley, Vice President of Community Affairs at P&G Gillette. “Each honoree reflects the spirit of service that Myra Kraft championed and demonstrates how one person’s actions can positively impact countless others. At Gillette, we are proud to support and celebrate those who bring out the best in people, and we thank the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation for continuing this meaningful tradition.”

Karen Coppola of Georgetown, MA was recognized as one of this year’s honorees and presented with a $10,000 donation for It Takes A Herd Foundation, Inc.

“Receiving the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award is an extraordinary honor because it carries forward Myra Kraft’s remarkable legacy of compassion, service, and commitment to community,” said Coppola. “To be associated with an award created in her honor is humbling, and what makes it especially significant is that this award celebrates something much larger than any one person. It shines a light on the power of volunteerism and reminds us of the difference people can make when they choose to invest their time, talents, and hearts in the lives of others.”

A 50-plus year volunteer across a multitude of organizations, Coppola founded It Takes A Herd Foundation Inc, an organization whose mission is restoring the partnership between people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners through dementia-friendly, equine-assisted programming. The organization is dedicated to creating opportunities for connection, camaraderie, and community, as these elements are often diminished as dementia progresses.

“I have had the privilege of watching people find joy in difficult circumstances, rebuild confidence, form connections, and recognize something within themselves they may have forgotten,” Coppola said. “There is something incredibly gratifying about knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.”

Coppola’s volunteer work has profoundly improved the lives of individuals and families navigating dementia, caregiving, and loss by addressing a critical and unmet need for person-centered support and education. She seeks to help bridge the relationship-gap between the individual living with dementia and the care partner by creating environments where confidence, camaraderie, and community are restored in meaningful and lasting ways.

“For me, volunteering means seeing where you can make a difference and choosing to show up, whether that means lending my experience, creating an opportunity that did not exist before, or simply making sure someone knows they matter,” said Coppola. “Strong communities do not happen by accident. They are built by people who care enough to give something of themselves to others.”

The 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range in age from 17 to 93 years old and represent almost all the New England states. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including sports, healthcare, hunger and nutrition, mentoring, social justice, human services, education, domestic violence, and more.

Since its inception, the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards program has recognized more than 550 volunteers and donated more than $4 million to support nonprofit organizations across New England.

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received over 150 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their outstanding volunteers. Nominations open every February and the awards are open to all nonprofit organizations in the New England region.

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

Patriots Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett (far left) and Gillette’s VP of Communications & Community Affairs, Global Grooming, Kara Buckley congratulate Karen Coppola from It Takes A Herd Foundation, Inc. for being selected as a 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winner. During the September 15 luncheon, the Kraft family, the Patriots Foundation and Gillette awarded $275,000 in grants to 26 New England nonprofits. It Takes A Herd Foundation, Inc. received a $10,000 grant in honor of Coppola’s volunteer efforts. (photo courtesy of Lexi Ehle/New England Patriots)

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett and Procter & Gamble’s VP of Communications & Community Affairs, Global Grooming, Kara Buckley take a group photo with the 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winners at Gillette Stadium. (photo courtesy of Lexi Ehle/New England Patriots)