Kristen Pedroli Pierce, The MRP Project’s founder, lost her husband Michael R. Pedroli in a car accident in 2016. Their children were just nine and six.
Seven months later, Kristen received a large package in the mail. She assumed it was a Christmas gift for her boys. It wasn’t!
Inside the package, Kristen found the a bag filled with the most amazing things for her: lip gloss, a cool winter hat, bath salts, a fun scarf, comfortable socks, candles, gift cards to Target and local restaurants, great smelling lotion, the list went on. There were about 10-15 items ranging in cost from about ten dollars or less.
It turns out the bag was from a group of women in a local town where her college roommate lives. While the bag didn’t take away her pain, it gave her an emotional boost and brightened her day. She will never forget how good it felt knowing people were thinking about her.
Kristen’s personal experience led to the start of the bags for a boost social support program just three years later. She then went on to realize her dream of creating a 501(c)(3) non-profit in memory of Mike.
Today, The MRP Project seeks to honor Michael R. Pedroli’s life and carry on his legacy of service by providing hope through social support to women and men facing hardships and mentoring to middle school students.
About Michael R. Pedroli
Michael R. Pedroli was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend, and community member. He was a gifted athlete and loved sports. Mike’s passion for sports led him to become a tireless coach for both of his sons and many other children in Hopkinton who had the opportunity to be coached by him. He was a natural leader and salesman and made it to the ranks of vice president of sales for his company. Even then, Mike found time to give back by serving as a mentor to children in the community.
About Our Logo
Do you know that feeling; when you’re walking through a dark time and you’re wondering if hope or joy are even possible? Your heart is grieving. And then you feel it—just a hint of light. The smallest ray of hope. And you hold onto it as tightly as you can.
— Lisa Leonard
The sunburst design captures that feeling of hope; light in the midst of darkness.
When the MRP Project was just an idea in Kristen’s mind, she remembers thinking the logo would be the easiest part. It only made sense it would be a sunburst.
She added the number 8 in there because it was Mike’s college baseball number. After he passed, many people wore the number 8 to remember him.
So when the MRP Project finally came to fruition, the overarching goal has been to spread rays of light in the midst of darkness.