New England Patriots

Patriots owner Kraft donates $100K to domestic violence organization

Published Oct. 10, 2015 12:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

Usually, when the NFL and domestic violence are featured in the same headline, it's not a good thing.

But Patriots owner Robert Kraft made some positive news recently by donating $100,000 to Independence House, a nonprofit that provides counseling and legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

According to Independence House executive director Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, Kraft called out of the blue about a month ago and asked if the organization would accept a gift of $100,000 to help prevent domestic violence.

"It was like a dream come true," Hurge-Putnam said this week at the organization's annual breakfast, according to the Cape Cod Times. "I was surprised. He said, 'Hi Lysetta. This is Bob Kraft.' As if we had just met yesterday."

Hurge-Putnam said the organization plans to use the funds to expand a program that provides temporary housing for victims of domestic violence and assists with transitioning the victims to independent living situations.

Kraft announced last month that the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is partnering with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to fund a variety of programs aimed at preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. Independence House is one of five organizations in the region set to receive $100,000 from Kraft and the Patriots.

Hurge-Putnam said, according to the Cape Cod Times, that Kraft told her the grants are going to organizations that are "flying under the radar" in terms of their impact.