It’s a touchdown for Haverhill’s Noelle Gregoire! The Haverhill teen was recently recognized by Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots Foundation for her work with the Laps 4 Backs charity, with the team owner naming her a 2019 Myra Kraft Community MVP and gifting her a cool $10,000.
Diagnosed with a spinal condition as a child, Gregoire, now 14, was inspired to pay it forward after she spent countless hours in hospitals and doctors’ offices without toys for children like herself to play with. To remedy that, she vowed that when she was well enough, she’d start a charity to collect toys and stock those waiting rooms full. To date, she’s donated more than 50,000 toys to hospitals in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Kraft and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett were among those moved by the teen’s story. “The stories describing the many volunteers who are nominated each year are inspirational. They serve as a reminder of how much good there really is in the world and how committed some people are to making their community a better place,” Tippett said.
Gregoire was one of 26 volunteers recognized for their selflessness at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. Twenty-five groups received $10,000 grants, while one received $25,000. That woman, Jillian Tsiplakis, serves as the director of Stepping Stones of the Merrimack Valley.