Tenacity AmeriCorps fellow Jacob Vlahakis Honored by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation

BOSTON - Oct. 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Second year Tenacity AmeriCorps fellow Jacob Vlahakis has been chosen as the "Patriots Difference Maker of the Week" by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

Jacob’s hard work and dedication make a huge difference in the lives of the students and families served by Tenacity.

A little over a year ago, Jacob originally planned to enroll in graduate school to pursue Japanese Language and Literary Studies and then delve into the world of academia, research, and writing. The plan changed, however, when he signed up with AmeriCorps to serve youth in Boston Public Schools. As an AmeriCorps fellow, Jake ended up working with Tenacity to make a difference in urban education through academics and sports.

In his first year of AmeriCorps service, Jacob was the Academic Lead for Tenacity's Middle School Academy program at the Umana Academy in East Boston, providing both literacy and life-skills/fitness/tennis programming, and creating and implementing literacy curriculum for 75 middle school students. In his second year as an AmeriCorps volunteer, Jacob serves in a new role at Tenacity as the Family Engagement Lead, empowering families to support their children at home while weaving Tenacity's powerful academic, fitness and character development messages together.

“The Kraft family and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation would like to congratulate Jacob Valhakis from Tenacity for being selected as our Patriots Difference Maker of the Week for sports volunteerism,” said Dan MacPherson, Community Relations Coordinator. “We thank Jacob for his outstanding commitment to volunteerism.”

For details visit: http://www.patriots.com/community/sports-volunteerism2014...

About Tenacity

Tenacity’s mission is to provide a Pathway to Post-Secondary Success for Boston’s underserved youth by combining literacy, life skills, family engagement, and tennis/fitness to improve their scholastic, character, and physical development.

Since 1999, Tenacity has partnered with Boston Public Schools (BPS) to help close the opportunity and achievement gaps for 30,000 underserved urban youth. Tenacity’s Pathway programs substantially increase high school graduation and college enrollment/completion rates, provide an active, healthy activity, and give underserved youth the life skills they need to succeed and become productive citizens.

95% of Tenacity Pathway students graduate from high school and 70% of Tenacity high school graduates have either completed or are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program.

For more details about Tenacity programs visit http://www.tenacity.org

About The Patriots Charitable Foundation

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is the nonprofit organization established by the Kraft family in 1994 to support charitable and philanthropic agencies throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants and the donation of signed memorabilia to charitable causes, and from Patriots players who offer their direct support by appearing at charity functions throughout the year.

The Foundation's primary goal is to support programs that aid the youth and families of the New England region by assisting programs that foster cultural diversity, education, family and health. The Foundation has taken special interest in youth programs that encourage education, creativity and development of character.