Krafts to donate $25,000 to Newtown

FOXBORO -- The Kraft family will be doing more than just putting a decal on their helmets to remember the victims of the Newtown tragedy. The Krafts own the Rand-Whitney corrugated box plant in the community that was devastated by the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, and they announced Sunday that they will be donating $25,000 to the community to help victims and others affected, according to the NFL Network's Albert Breer.

Breer reported that Robert's son Jonathan Kraft first heard about the tragedy through the business they own there.

Friday was the day scheduled at the plant to celebrate the retirement of one of the managers who worked there for 15 years. Kraft, not aware when he called to congratulate the worker, was told what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The president of the company picked up the phone, and told him they had canceled the celebration and were holding counseling sessions instead.

Kraft was informed of the horrific tragedy involving the shooting deaths of 20 children and six innocent adults and immediately made the committment to help in whatever way possible.

"To me, the adults who lost their children in this are so important, the future of the school and how it moves forward is important, the town is important," Jonathan Kraft told Breer. "It's not for us to make the decision on what to do with the money. But we're gonna help."

"The players have been really effected by it, just hearing guys talk. You never hear guys talk about current events, but the guys were talking about it on Friday afternoon and Saturday in the building. A lot of guys have young children. A lot of guys have guns. There was a lot of talk here."

The Patriots will wear decals on the backs of their helmets Sunday, have a moment of silence prior to their Sunday night game against San Francisco, and light 26 flares to honor the 26 victims. For more, visit the Patriots team page at weei.com/patriots [1].