June 15, 2012
Norwalk’s Solis honored by Kraft family foundation
By CHRIS BOSAK
Hour Staff Writer
NORWALK — Luis Solis, owner of Norwalk Pizza and Pasta and Don Carmelo’s Mexican Grill, recently received a Myra Kraft Community MVP Award, which honors individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism.
Solis volunteers with The Courage to Speak Foundation, which will receive a $2,500 grant from the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation as a result of Solis’s honor. Solis, along with the Courage to Speak Foundation, were honored at the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Luncheon held this week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, pro football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and tight end Rob Gronkowski were on hand to congratulate the winners.
“It was an honor to meet Mr. Kraft and be awarded such a great honor,” Solis said. “I do things because I like to, not to be awarded, but this was a nice honor.
“We all need to be involved in the community,” he added. “It’s our responsibility as business owners and humans to make sure everything is as good as possible. Courage to Speak is involved in our community and our children. It’s important our kids don’t get involved with drugs and that they live a healthy lifestyle. Ginger’s story is one everyone should be aware of.”
The Courage to Speak Foundation was founded by Norwalk’s Ginger Katz, whose son died of a drug overdose in 1996. The Foundation has created drug prevention programs for students in elementary, middle and high school, as well as for parents.
Solis organized a Spanish Advisory Council to introduce Courageous Parenting 101 class in Spanish.
“I’m so proud of Luis,” Katz said. “He does so much for us.”
The Myra Kraft Community MVP Award is named after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s wife Myra, who passed away in 2011. As a philanthropist and professional volunteer, Myra Kraft committed tens of thousands of hours to improve the lives of children and people in need across the globe. Along with Robert Kraft, she contributed well over $100 million to charitable causes, with the primary focus of improving the lives of children and enhancing their educational opportunities
Get in touch
For more information, email Ginger Katz at gkatz@couragetospeak.org or call (877) 431-3295. And go to www.couragetospeak.org Contact Colchester Youth Services at youthservices@colchesterct.gov or by calling (860) 537-7255
