Surprise Gifts From Patriots Owner Buoying Boston Charities

Billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is quietly putting an unusually personal imprint on this family’s philanthropy, picking up the mantle from his late wife, The Boston Globe writes. In recent months Mr. Kraft has been regularly calling small Boston-area charities to reveal surprise six-figure donations.

Myra Kraft was known in the region for her philanthropic engagement, volunteering and serving on boards as well as channeling funds, but the family’s philanthropy reverted to more traditional check writing and charity galas when she died in 2011, according to the Globe. Working with a consultant hired last spring, Mr. Kraft took a new approach focusing on small organizations that are “doing good work but that may not be getting the attention they deserve,” said the consultant, who spoke on condition of anonymity.