As a person of color himself, Devin McCourty understands what it’s like to live with a heightened risk of sickle cell anemia, a hereditary illness that has a much more profound effect on the black community. McCourty, who plays safety for the New England Patriots, recently asked Robert Kraft, the team’s owner, if the two could chat about some advancements McCourty recently read about in the fight against sickle cell anemia.
McCourty could never have imagined the plans Kraft had to donate to sickle cell anemia research when he agreed to meet with New England’s safety. Once the meeting ended, McCourty was quick to credit Kraft as someone who is a true ambassador for change in the world.
Robert Kraft Makes $50 Million Donation to Help Tackle Healthcare Disparities
People don’t always want to believe that healthcare spending and research based on the age, race, economic status, geographic region, or ethnicity of patients is as much of an issue in 2022 as it really is. Kraft has recognized the problem for years, and he made a donation to the well-known Massachusetts General Hospital to help tackle the disparity.
Sickle cell anemia primarily affects both men and women of African descent, and it simply has not received the same level of funding or attention as other major diseases. Approximately one person of color out of 365 receives a sickle cell anemia diagnosis shortly after birth.
What Will Massachusetts General Hospital Do with Kraft’s Gift?
Devin McCourty knows that a gift the size of Kraft’s donation has the capacity to truly change lives. The hospital plans to fund a permanent chair position focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity. The ability to have a position within the hospital dedicated to this cause alone will go a long way towards advances in fighting the disease.
The hospital intends to call the permanent chair position the Robert K. Kraft Endowed Chair in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The current medical director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center for Massachusetts General Hospital will oversee the endowment. MGH will also divert more funds towards the 11-year-old Kraft Center for Community Health. The hospital also intends to expand its blood donor center and rename it after Robert Kraft.
McCourty Admires Kraft for Wanting to Help and be a Leader
If there is one thing he has noticed about his team’s owner over the years, it’s that Kraft always wants to be part of the solution. Devin and his twin brother, Jason, have supported the sickle cell community on their own for years through such organizations as Tackle Sickle Cell. The twin brothers also recently hosted an event called the McCourty Bowl to raise funds for sickle cell anemia.
Devin McCourty also can’t help but notice that Kraft seeks out diverse perspectives among his players and people in the community. He visits Massachusetts General Hospital often to learn about the diseases affecting people and the challenges in receiving the treatment they need. According to McCourty, Kraft has always been aware that not everyone has the same financial resources or privileges in their upbringing that makes it possible to receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment for any disease.
Creating Change on the Football Field and in the Community
No matter what Robert Kraft pursues, he sets out to make a difference. As a long-time fan who couldn’t stand to see his beloved New England Patriots lose so much, he bought the team in January 1994 and completely reversed its fortunes. The National Football League (NFL) team that had only appeared in one Super Bowl, a 1986 10-point loss to the Chicago Bears, soon became a household name.
The Patriots appeared in the Super Bowl in just their third season under Kraft in 1997. By 2002, they had taken home the franchise’s first championship title, a feat they would repeat five times by 2019. Six Super Bowl wins and nine appearances have made Kraft and the Patriots the winningest team in the NFL over the past 20 years. The honor includes conference crowns, championship games, and regular season games besides the Super Bowl wins.
Robert Kraft moved his team to Gillette Stadium in 2002, further sealing the team’s winning ways and by boasting the best home-field winning streak in the entire league. Despite his enormous success in sports, entertainment, and business, Kraft is never one to rest on his laurels.
As he demonstrated with his $50 million sickle cell anemia research grant, he is always prepared to step in to lend a hand and genuinely wants to do so. Whether it’s a team with a losing record and an unpopular stadium or an illness gripping an entire community, Kraft won’t hesitate to do whatever he can for the people who live in the New England community he has come to love.
Robert Kraft Steps Up in a Huge Way with $50 Million Gift to Fight Sickle Cell Anemia
As a person of color himself, Devin McCourty understands what it’s like to live with a heightened risk of sickle cell anemia, a hereditary illness that has a much more profound effect on the black community. McCourty, who plays safety for the New England Patriots, recently asked Robert Kraft, the team’s owner, if the two could chat about some advancements McCourty recently read about in the fight against sickle cell anemia.
McCourty could never have imagined the plans Kraft had to donate to sickle cell anemia research when he agreed to meet with New England’s safety. Once the meeting ended, McCourty was quick to credit Kraft as someone who is a true ambassador for change in the world.
Robert Kraft Makes $50 Million Donation to Help Tackle Healthcare Disparities
People don’t always want to believe that healthcare spending and research based on the age, race, economic status, geographic region, or ethnicity of patients is as much of an issue in 2022 as it really is. Kraft has recognized the problem for years, and he made a donation to the well-known Massachusetts General Hospital to help tackle the disparity.
Sickle cell anemia primarily affects both men and women of African descent, and it simply has not received the same level of funding or attention as other major diseases. Approximately one person of color out of 365 receives a sickle cell anemia diagnosis shortly after birth.
What Will Massachusetts General Hospital Do with Kraft’s Gift?
Devin McCourty knows that a gift the size of Kraft’s donation has the capacity to truly change lives. The hospital plans to fund a permanent chair position focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity. The ability to have a position within the hospital dedicated to this cause alone will go a long way towards advances in fighting the disease.
The hospital intends to call the permanent chair position the Robert K. Kraft Endowed Chair in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The current medical director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center for Massachusetts General Hospital will oversee the endowment. MGH will also divert more funds towards the 11-year-old Kraft Center for Community Health. The hospital also intends to expand its blood donor center and rename it after Robert Kraft.
McCourty Admires Kraft for Wanting to Help and be a Leader
If there is one thing he has noticed about his team’s owner over the years, it’s that Kraft always wants to be part of the solution. Devin and his twin brother, Jason, have supported the sickle cell community on their own for years through such organizations as Tackle Sickle Cell. The twin brothers also recently hosted an event called the McCourty Bowl to raise funds for sickle cell anemia.
Devin McCourty also can’t help but notice that Kraft seeks out diverse perspectives among his players and people in the community. He visits Massachusetts General Hospital often to learn about the diseases affecting people and the challenges in receiving the treatment they need. According to McCourty, Kraft has always been aware that not everyone has the same financial resources or privileges in their upbringing that makes it possible to receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment for any disease.
Creating Change on the Football Field and in the Community
No matter what Robert Kraft pursues, he sets out to make a difference. As a long-time fan who couldn’t stand to see his beloved New England Patriots lose so much, he bought the team in January 1994 and completely reversed its fortunes. The National Football League (NFL) team that had only appeared in one Super Bowl, a 1986 10-point loss to the Chicago Bears, soon became a household name.
The Patriots appeared in the Super Bowl in just their third season under Kraft in 1997. By 2002, they had taken home the franchise’s first championship title, a feat they would repeat five times by 2019. Six Super Bowl wins and nine appearances have made Kraft and the Patriots the winningest team in the NFL over the past 20 years. The honor includes conference crowns, championship games, and regular season games besides the Super Bowl wins.
Robert Kraft moved his team to Gillette Stadium in 2002, further sealing the team’s winning ways and by boasting the best home-field winning streak in the entire league. Despite his enormous success in sports, entertainment, and business, Kraft is never one to rest on his laurels.
As he demonstrated with his $50 million sickle cell anemia research grant, he is always prepared to step in to lend a hand and genuinely wants to do so. Whether it’s a team with a losing record and an unpopular stadium or an illness gripping an entire community, Kraft won’t hesitate to do whatever he can for the people who live in the New England community he has come to love.
