SOUTH END — 2,000 students in Boston schools were given an early Christmas thanks to New England Patriots captain Matthew Slater and the Corey C. Griffin Foundation’s Kids iniative. The event, held recently at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

The young students received laptops and STEM magnetic puzzles, and heard an inspirational talk from Slater. “And that’s the beauty of Christmas, it’s the gift of Christ that we receive, that we celebrate,” said Slater, according to a piece on CBS WBZ-TV, Channel 4. 

Working with young people and Boston’s non-profit organizations is a core tenet of the Foundation, named for Corey Griffin, who was 27 when he died in an accident on Nantucket in 2014.

All photos by Bill Brett