Projo Pats Blog

Hey all --

This morning brought me to Woonsocket Middle School for a charity event with Matt Light and Robert Kraft. Light's eponymous foundation runs a My Money Matters program with a small group of boys at the school, and Kraft was on hand to present a grant check on behalf of NFL Charities.

The Light Foundation does a lot of work in Woonsocket, but also with other organizations in New England and in Light's home state of Ohio.

But to me, the greatest thing the foundation has done is more recent: Light's foundation has donated money to start a scholarship in honor of former New Bedford Standard-Times Patriots reporter Danny Pires, who died last June at age 52.

Danny was one of my very best friends, and his sudden death -- he had lost over 40 pounds in an effort to make sure he'd be around for his teenaged son and daughter -- shook not just me, but the entire Pats' media corps. Danny could light up a room, and in a group where there are often cliques and allegiances, he got along with everyone, and was always there to extend a hand of greeting to new and visiting reporters.

That friendliness extended to the players, many of whom he had a personal relationship with, and Light's contribution speaks to that.

To that end, the student chosen to receive the scholarship won't necessarily be the best student or the best athlete -- he or she will be someone who has an impact on those they come across.

I thanked him for his thoughtfulness when I saw Matt today, but I also wanted to take this chance to thank him for recognizing what a tremendous man Danny was and helping to ensure that his spirit won't soon be forgotten.

For more information or to donate, email Light Foundation assistant Cindi Mitchell at dannypiresscholarship@gmail.com.

 Tags  Matt Light

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