Patriots Foundation donates $100k to Peace Institute

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute has received a $100,000 grant from the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation to help the Fields Corner-based organization’s sustainability and its public policy advocacy efforts in a time of unprecedented need.

“In today’s world, there are unfortunately hundreds of people, very vulnerable people, people in need. And we’re in a position to help those people,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft in a press release.

Tina Chéry founded the organization in 1994 in honor of her son, Louis, an innocent bystander and nonviolence activist who was shot and killed near his home in Dorchester at the age of 15.

“I’d like to express my profound gratitude to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation for your generous support of our efforts,“ said Chéry. “An investment in a survivor-led organization that informs, influences and impacts policies that create a more equitable society for families impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss is vital, if we are to bring about real and lasting change in our communities.”

The injection of funding comes in the wake of an uptick in homicides in several U.S. cities, including Boston. The spike has prompted the LDBPI--which provides outreach and programming for families of homicide victims--to expand its services by partnering with other nonviolence nonprofits around the country, beginning with a new collaboration with the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia.

Kraft and Chéry filmed a video announcement accompanying news of the grant, in which Kraft praised Chéry for her years of advocacy work around peace and healing in the community.

“I don’t know if I could be as understanding and merciful as you are,” Kraft told Chéry, when announcing the grant, remarking on her years of activism. “You’re an amazing lady. For you to have the depth to be able to do what you are doing. We need more of that in America today.”


Subscribe to the Dorchester Reporter