Members of the Lowell-based UTEC mingled with New England Patriots players and received a surprise donation last week at Gillette Stadium. (Courtesy photgraph)
Haverhill is among the communities poised to benefit from a $75,000 donation from the New England Patriots to Merrimack Valley-based youth outreach group UTEC.
Issued last week, the donation is the first of its kind from the Patriots Social Justice Fund. CEO Gregg Croteau and Policy Director Geoff Foster headed to Foxborough to present an overview on UTEC’s work to reduce recidivism and discuss the group’s passion for criminal justice reform. The men and several staff members also mingled with players, including Julian Edelman, Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty.
“The players share our belief that young people are the experts in their own experience of social justice,” Croteau told WHAV in a statement. “This grant will help young adults make progress in their personal lives and in addressing policy that improves all of our lives.”
The newly established Social Justice Fund is organized and funded by players, who vote on which organizations to support. Patriots owner Robert Kraft regularly contributes, often matching players’ donations.
UTEC, which expects to open a satellite location on Winter Street later this year, has worked closely with the city and Mayor James J. Fiorentini’s office in an effort to curb gang-related violence in Haverhill over the last several months.