This is an old revision of this page, as edited by JomalleyWK (talk | contribs) at 16:43, 2 February 2012 (added information about her graduation from Bancroft School with a citation to back it up). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 16:43, 2 February 2012 by JomalleyWK (talk | contribs) (added information about her graduation from Bancroft School with a citation to back it up)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Myra Hiatt Kraft (née Myra Nathalie Hiatt; December 27, 1942 – July 20, 2011) was an American philanthropist. She was the daughter of the late Worcester philanthropist Jacob Hiatt and wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, she was 1960 graduate of the private Bancroft School in Worcester, and a 1964 graduate of Brandeis University. Kraft was listed by Boston Magazine as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in Boston, She was president and director of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and trustee of the Robert K. and Myra H. Kraft Foundation. She served on the boards of directors of the American Repertory Theatre, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Northeastern University, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, and Brandeis University. She and her husband donated millions of dollars to the Kraft Stadium to promote American football in Jerusalem.
She was known to have intervened in the operations of her husband's teams only once, when shortly after the 1996 NFL Draft, she learned that the Patriots' fifth-round choice, Christian Peter of Nebraska, had a lengthy history of violence against women. At Myra's insistence, the Patriots relinquished Peter's rights only a week after the draft.
The International Herald Tribune credited Myra Kraft with “modeling a new form of engaged giving that is transforming the relationship between philanthropist and philanthropy,” and the Boston Globe stated she was "forging a whole new form of engaged giving.”
Death
Myra Kraft died from cancer on July 20, 2011, aged 68. In her memory, all Patriots players are wearing a patch on their uniforms bearing Kraft's initials (MHK) throughout the 2011–12 season.
References
- "Myra H. Kraft". The Boston Indicators Project. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- Red, Christian. "New England Patriots have someone watching over them during Super Bowl journey". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Boston Magazine's Most Powerful Women". Boston magazine. WCVB-TV.com. 2003-04-30. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- "A voice for the victims", The Boston Globe
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2007-03-18). "Giving Large". The Boston Globe Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- Marquard, Bryan (2011-07-20). "Myra Kraft, philanthropist and wife of New England Pats owner Robert Kraft, dead at 68". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- The post- TD dedication by BenJarvis Green-Ellis