Community Corner

Patriots Lift Spirits of Newtown Community with Youth Football Clinic

About 30 current and former Patriots players, coaches and cheerleaders interacted with the Newtown, Conn. Community's youth in a free "Football for You" clinic Saturday.

The New England Patriots gave the Newtown, Conn. community a reason to smile this past Saturday – 154 days after unspeakable tragedy struck the small, quiet town.

About 30 current and former Patriots players, coaches and cheerleaders conducted a free “Football for You” youth clinic Saturday at Newtown High School just over five months since the

“This is part of the New England community and I think all of us were devastated when we saw what happened here,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft via Patriots Today. “If it can happen here in the town of Newtown then it can happen in any city or town in America.”

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The Kraft family has been connected to Newtown for nearly 20 years as the owners and operators of Rand-Whitney Newtown, a manufacturer of corrugated boxes, located two miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School, according to NFL.com. The company served as a staging area for media during the Dec. 14, 2012 tragedy.

“I guess out of bad things [like the Newtown tragedy], good things can happen,” Kraft said. … “The good here is to see the resilience and the mental toughness and the support this community gave to one another.”

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That good was on display Saturday as more than 500 children participated in free football clinic, according to Patriots Football Weekly.

Engaging with the Newtown’s youth was Kraft and several Patriots stars, including tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Jerod Mayo, defensive back Devin McCourty and second-year linebacker Dont'a Hightower among many others.

Kraft even got involved in some of the drills, according to PFW, lining up as cornerback against a Newtown boy.

“On one play, the 71-year-old Kraft lined up defending a youngster as [Gronkowski played quarterback],” PFW reported. … “But the young receiver tripped over [Kraft’s] feet, leading onlookers and Gronk to emphatically call for a pass-interference flag on [the owner].”

Other events during the clinic included several skill stations like blocking, receiving and punting. The day also included an ongoing Patriots-themed activity zone that featured food, games and prizes for the Newtown community to enjoy.

The clinic kicked off the first of seven clinics that will take place throughout New England this summer and marked the first time the clinic visited Connecticut.

All “Football for You” clinics are part of the NFL’s Play 60 initiative, which promotes healthy living among young fans.


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