FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (November 8, 2021) — MassBay Community College student, Nathan Persampieri of Newton, MA, has been recognized by the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation with the “Patriots Difference Maker of the Week Award.” Persampieri, who studies liberal arts, was selected for his commitment and volunteerism with the Newton, MA, nonprofit organization, Understanding Our Differences.
![Nathan Persampieri]( "Nathan Persampieri")
“I am humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Persampieri. “I would like to thank Understanding Our Differences and the New England Patriots for recognizing my efforts. Building awareness of people’s differences and creating an inclusive community is important and vital work in which I’m proud to take part.”
The mission of Understanding Our Differences is to educate communities to value and accept people of all abilities through school-based, interactive disability awareness programs. The nonprofit serves more than 80 schools in eastern Massachusetts and beyond and is committed to teaching students to see the whole person and better understand their disabilities.
Persampieri started volunteering with Understanding Our Differences in 2017, when he was a student at Newton North High School. Since that time, he has become an advocate, ambassador, speaker, volunteer, and part of the advisory board where he meets with city leaders to raise the profile of people with disabilities and encourages them to create new programs that raise awareness and promote inclusion.
"We are excited to once again recognize local volunteers with our Patriots Difference Maker of the Week Award," said Josh Kraft, president, New England Patriots Foundation. "Each of these honorees has their own unique story of community service and we are proud to shine a light on the tremendous work they are doing. We would like to thank all of this year's Patriots Difference Makers for helping to build stronger New England communities."
According to their website, throughout the 2021 season, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation will recognize 17 local volunteers with the "Patriots Difference Maker of the Week Award." The honorees will be celebrated for going above and beyond to support nonprofit organizations in New England communities. As part of this recognition, the foundation will present a $5,000 donation to the nonprofit organization represented by each honoree. The Patriots Difference Makers will participate in a special year-end celebration and will receive a pair of tickets to attend the Patriots final regular-season home game on Jan. 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This marks the 11th season that the Kraft family and the Patriots Foundation have presented their Patriots Difference Maker of the Week Award to volunteers from all across New England. Since its inception, 150 individuals have received this award and more than $675,000 has been donated to local nonprofit organizations.
Persampieri is scheduled to graduate with his Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts in May 2022, with plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue his bachelor’s degree.
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.