‘We need all Americans’ – Patriots owner Robert Kraft joins forces with Tom Brady for new initiative
New England Patriots longtime team owner Robert Kraft is starting an initiative to combat the current rise in antisemitism across the country. Kraft announced on Monday that he will launch his new foundation, "Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) and that he is investing $25 million to get it started. Kraft, who was born and raised in a Jewish family, has been open about his faith in the past.
Kraft said that the rise in hate against the Jewish community is astounding and that he realized that something needs to be done. In an exclusive with PEOPLE magazine, the Patriots owner said that the Jewish community can't do this on their own and needs the help of all Americans to fight the hate. And, there will be a way for those who wish to support FCAS to do show that.
"We need all Americans and that's why we've come up with this blue emoji to be a symbol of asking all Americans to stand with us and help fight this."
A blue square emoji could be used by supporters to showcase their support for FCAS. He said that he has already gotten his former quarterback Tom Brady to agree to help and support the cause.
"He and I are still very tight and he will be using this blue emoji when we kick off again. He promised he would."
The 81-year-old also mentioned that he has enlisted rapper Meek Mill as well. Mill will also join the Patriots owner on a trip to Poland in the coming weeks as he takes part in the 2023 March of the Living, an annual educational movement to provide awareness of the Holocaust.
How long has Robert Kraft owned the New England Patriots?
Robert Kraft had been a longtime fan of the New England Patriots and had season tickets to regular season games since 1971. Before buying the Patriots, he owned other professional sports ventures.
At 70-1, the Patriots have the longest preseason Super Bowl odds since Bill Belichick became the coach in 2000 -- and since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. wp.me/pbBqYq-czeZ
In 1974, Kraft and a group of five others purchased a World Team Tennis team called the Boston Lobsters. The team and then the league disbanded in 1978. He then turned his attention to possibly buying the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.
Throughout the 1980's, Robert Kraft attempted to purchase the New England Patriots and even Foxboro Stadium, but it never panned out. It wasn't until 1994, when the former owner James Orthwein finally agreed to sell the team to him for a whopping $172 million. At the time, it was the highest price tag for a NFL franchise.