Read the letter Robert Kraft wrote to the Parkland students and families
Patriots owner Robert Kraft led his note to a group of Marjory Stoneman Douglas students with a moving quote from Margaret Mead: “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
Kraft — who chartered one of the Patriots’ two team planes to help a community of Parkland residents travel to Washington D.C.’s “March for Our Lives” Saturday — had cards with Mead’s inspiring words waiting on the seat for each passenger.
His note continued:
On behalf of the New England Patriots organization, I want to express our support as you travel to Washington for this weekend’s ‘March for Our Lives.’ In the wake of incredible tragedy we have hurt for you, mourned with you and been inspired by you. It is an honor for us to now partner with you as you push for progress.
Your community is stirring our country towards a better future. That is the true mark of a patriot. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. Best wishes as you prepare for takeoff on your journey.
When Parkland families boarded the Patriots team plane that would take them to D.C. for the #marchforourlives, they found a letter from Robert Kraft and a Patriots baseball hat waiting on their seats. https://t.co/lZG4Awsjx4 pic.twitter.com/0dDvR8ddLL
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) March 26, 2018
According to Sports Illustrated, Kraft arranged transportation for “half of the families of the 17 victims, a handful of the students who were injured, and a group of students who would be performing their original song, ‘Shine,’ at the march” — many of whom would not have been able to attend without his help.
The 76-year-old told reporters at the NFL owners meetings Monday he thought the gesture was a way for the organization to “reach out to these people who were hurting.”
“I can’t think of a worse, unnatural thing than losing a child,” Kraft said in response to the school shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14. “To think of little kids going to school and seeing bullets, in America, go over their head. Something’s not right, and we’ve got to fix it.”
