Devin McCourty Wins Ron Burton Community Service Award
BOSTON (CBS) -- Devin McCourty became the 12th player to receive the New England Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award on Monday evening.
Patriots chairman Robert Kraft presented the award to McCourty at the "Patriots Premiere" event at Gillette Stadium to benefit the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.
McCourty joins a select group of Patriots players to receive the Ron Burton Award: Joe Andruzzi (2003), Troy Brown (2004), Matt Light (2005), Jarvis Green (2006), Ty Warren (2007), Larry Izzo (2008), Kevin Faulk (2009), Vince Wilfork (2010), Jerod Mayo (2011), Zoltan Mesko (2012) and Matthew Slater (2013).
"It's so much more gratifying when you can give to others and see the effect you have on them," McCourty said after the ceremony. "Anyone can take a gift, but to take the time out and do something special for someone, it's a great honor.
"I give back because my mom instilled it in me," he said. "She showed me the way of her having a good heart and giving back to people. She was a nurse and when I saw that growing up I knew in life that I wanted to do something to give back to people."
The award is named in honor of the late Ron Burton, the first player drafted by the Patriots and a community leader known for his charitable work. Ron is the father of WBZ-TV sports anchor Steve Burton and reporter Paul Burton.
In four seasons as a Patriot, McCourty has regularly participated in the team's community Tuesday events. McCourty also has teamed with his twin brother, Jason, who plays for Tennessee to start his own foundation to help fight Sickle Cell, a disease that has affected members of his own family.
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