New England Patriots group awarding grants to outstanding volunteers

The New England Patriots are currently accepting nominations for the 2010 Community MVP Awards program, which is supported this year by the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund.

The Community MVP Awards honor individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism.

Through the program, nonprofit organizations throughout New England have the opportunity to reward their hard-working volunteers for the invaluable time and support they provide to their communities.

Twenty-one winners will be selected – including one grand prize winner of $10,000, five winners of $5,000 and 15 winners of $2,500.

The money will be awarded to the nonprofit organization for which each honoree volunteers.

Additionally, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will visit the top six organizations to recognize and honor the winners.

In 2009, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation donated more than $50,000 to local organizations via the Community MVP Awards.

New England residents who are 13 years of age or older and provide volunteer services for nonprofit 501(c) (3) organizations are eligible for nomination.

Only one nominee may be considered from each organization.

The strongest applicants will be hands-on volunteers who do not receive any compensation (monetary or otherwise) for their efforts.

Winners will be selected by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

Nonprofit organizations may nominate volunteers by completing the application found at www.patriots.com/community.

Completed applications must be received by March 31, 2010.

This is the first year the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund, which has the largest donor-advised fund program in the nation, has been involved with the Community MVP Awards. The association represents a continuation of the Gift Fund’s support of volunteerism, which began last year when it conducted a landmark study on volunteerism and formed an alliance with the nonprofit VolunteerMatch to encourage more Americans to donate time and talent.

About the Foundation

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the nonprofit organization established by the Kraft family in 1994 to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England.

This support comes in the form of direct grants and the donation of signed memorabilia to charitable causes, as well as from Patriots players who offer their direct support by appearing at charity functions throughout the year.

The foundation’s primary goal is to support programs that aid the youth and families of the New England region by assisting programs that foster cultural diversity, education, family and health.

The foundation has taken special interest in youth programs that encourage education, creativity and development of character.

For more information about the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, please visit www.patriots.com/community.

About the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund

The Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund was established by Fidelity Investments® in 1991. The mission of the Gift Fund is to further the American tradition of philanthropy by providing programs that make charitable giving simple and effective.

Since its inception, the Gift Fund has helped more than 56,000 donors recommend more than $9.5 billion in grants to over 130,000 nonprofit organizations, with the Giving Account®, its donor-advised fund program.

To learn more about the Gift Fund, please contact Fidelity Corporate Communications at (617) 563-5800.

Posted March 3, 2010