Myra Kraft
Myra Kraft | |
|---|---|
| Born | Myra Nathalie Hiatt December 27, 1942 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 2011 (aged 68) Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brandeis University (B.A.) [1] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4; including Daniel, Jonathan and Josh |
| Parent(s) | Jacob Hiatt Frances Hiatt |
Myra Hiatt Kraft (née Myra Nathalie Hiatt; December 27, 1942 – July 20, 2011[2]) was an American philanthropist and the wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft.
Early life and education
Kraft was born in
In 1960, Kraft graduated from the private Bancroft School in Worcester,[6] and in 1964 she graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in History.[1]
Philanthropy
Kraft was listed by Boston Magazine as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in Boston,
She and her husband donated millions of dollars to promote American football in Israel building the
Kraft and her husband started the "Passport to Israel" Program with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston which provided financial assistance to Jewish parents to send their children to Israel while teenagers to help promote Jewish identity.[5] To encourage greater understanding between Christians and Jews, Kraft, her husband, and her father endowed two professorships in comparative religion at the College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University: the Kraft-Hiatt Chair in Judaic Studies at Holy Cross and the Kraft-Hiatt Chair in Christian Studies at Brandeis University.[4]
The
The Krafts have donated more than $100 million to a wide range of charities mostly focusing on education, athletics, women’s issues, and Israel.[5]
New England Patriots
Kraft was the president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, the team's non-profit entity created by the Kraft family to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout the United States and Israel.[10]
Shortly after the
Personal life
Kraft married Robert Kraft in June 1963 while she was a student at Brandeis.[12] They have four sons:
- The Kraft Group and the New England Patriots.[13]
- International Forest Products founded in 1972 by his father.[13]
- Joshua Kraft is the chair of Kraft Family Charities and the former president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.[13]
- David Kraft[13]
Death
Kraft died from ovarian cancer on July 20, 2011, at age 68, in her Brookline, Massachusetts, home.[14] Public services were held at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts.[3] In her memory, all Patriots players wore a patch on their uniforms bearing Kraft's initials (MHK) throughout the 2011 season.[15]
References
- ^ a b "Honoree: Myra Hiatt Kraft", Brandeis University Commencement 2012
- ^ "Myra H. Kraft". The Boston Indicators Project. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ a b ESPN: "Philanthropist Myra Kraft dies" July 20, 2011
- ^ a b c d College of the Holy Cross: In Memoriam: Jacob Hiatt February 25, 2001
- ^ a b c d Jewish Journal: "Bob Kraft: New England Patriots’ Jewish owner" by Andrew Gershman January 23, 2012
- ^ Red, Christian. "New England Patriots have someone watching over them during Super Bowl journey". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ Boston magazine. WCVB-TV.com. 2003-04-30. Archived from the originalon 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Past Winners". Jewish Book Council. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ a b Paulson, Michael (2007-03-18). "Giving Large". The Boston Globe Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Myra Kraft, wife of Pats and Revs owner, dies". ESPN.com. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ "A voice for the victims", The Boston Globe
- ^ International Forest Products LLC website: "Giving Large" March 17, 2007
- ^ a b c d Damiano, Mike (3 September 2019). "Can Jonathan Kraft Keep the Patriots' Reign Alive?".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Pats' season, dedicated to Myra Kraft, continues to Super Bowl" January 22, 2012