Nashua Woman Earns $10,000 Grant for Harbor Homes

BOSTON - Laurie Goguen of Nashua was honored as a $10,000 Second Prize winner in the annual Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards. 

The $10,000 grant will go to Harbor Homes, to continue the good work that helped Goguen find her way, from addict to inspiration.

“I am grateful, and it sounds cliché, but I truly do want to give back in return for all the help that I received,” said Goguen. “I feel this is a way to demonstrate service to God and to others ... It is an incredible honor to me and inspires me to do more. Myra Kraft has always been an inspiration to me, and to receive an award in her name is both amazing and humbling.”

After experiencing tragedy which led to tremendous personal struggles, Goguen’s relationship with Harbor Homes began when she finally sought help and entered a recovery program. In less than two years, she went from being homeless, fighting addictions and battling personal struggles, to becoming a client and graduate of Harbor Home’s Keystone Hall.

She embraced recovery in progress, joined the Board of Directors and leads numerous committees and projects. Through her ability to talk from personal experience, she is fueled to encourage and support others. Women seek her out for her advice and inspiration. She says she has benefited from Harbor Homes, and now it is her turn to give back.

“Laurie is an incredible volunteer who serves not only as a board member of our six member agencies, but also as a mentor to our clients and a member of our health clinic's advisory board,” said Vanessa Talasazan, Vice President of Development and Grant Compliance at Harbor Homes Inc.

“She brings compassion, kindness, and a new perspective to all of her duties, and the guidance she gives to the Partnership for Successful Living through her volunteerism is priceless.” 

Talasazan said, “To have a volunteer from the Partnership for Successful Living honored as this year's Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winner will help the 4,000 community members we serve immensely. It is a great honor that showcases to the community how important volunteerism is. We hope it will inspire others to give the greatest gift they own: the donation of their time and skills to help others.” 

The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation’s Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards place a spotlight on those who give their time to help others and exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism. Annually, the Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation host the awards program as part of the ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative in honor Myra Kraft’s example of being a lifelong volunteer. 

In all, 26 honorees were recognized on June 12 for their contributions in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium and received grants for their respective nonprofit organizations. Fifteen New England based organizations were presented with a $5,000 grant  in honor of their volunteers’ work with 10 more receiving grants of $10,000 and one grand prize winner of $25,000. In 2013, the Kraft family doubled the grant amounts to $200,000 as part of the Patriots Marathon Team record-breaking fundraising in support of the program.

“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of our communities,” said Robert Kraft.  

“Unfortunately, they often go unrecognized for their contributions. These awards give us a chance to thank and recognize them. What I love most about this event is the touching stories and the opportunity to show a small token of our appreciation to these outstanding individuals.”

On hand to congratulate the award winners was Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Charitable Foundation President Joshua Kraft, Pro Football and Patriots Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, punter Zoltan Mesko and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork.