Raffle for ‘Tompa Bay’ time

Winner gets trip to Bucs-Saints

For years, one of Matt Light’s biggest money-makers for his nonprofit foundation has been raffling off luxury box seats to a Patriots game of note, with several other perks included.

The top prize always lured in plenty of eager fans wanting a chance to go to a Patriots game and hang out with Light, a Patriots Hall of Fame member, along with other celebrity guests prior to and during the game. This year? Interestingly, the Patriots game package is now relegated to second-prize status. First prize?

Tom Brady, of course. And not just Brady. Throw Drew Brees into the equation, with a side of Rob Gronkowski.

Thanks to holding down the job as Brady’s blindside protector for a decade in the NFL, and having the same job for Brees at Purdue, Light was able to put together another incredible raffle prize: a trip for two to Tampa, Florida, to watch the scheduled Nov. 8 matchup between Brady and Brees when the Buccaneers host the Saints at Raymond James Stadium.

The grand prize winner will also be awarded premium club seat tickets to the game, a two-night hotel stay in the Tampa area, and two round-trip coach airfare tickets.

And if that isn’t enough of a draw, the winner will get to meet Brady, Brees and Gronk after the game and receive autographed jerseys.

Might it seem a bit odd for Light to be raffling off a Buccaneers game for his big prize?

“(Laughter) … Yeah, it really does,” said the former Patriots left tackle. “And what makes it more interesting or awkward, is the secondary prize. That’s tickets to the Patriots season opener (against Miami) in a suite. Normally, that would be a cool prize, but it pales in comparison to the big one.”

Funny how that turned out.

Proceeds from the raffle are earmarked for the Light Foundation, which has had difficulty maintaining its usual standard for raising money during the pandemic.

“We’ve had amazing fortune here in New England,” said Light. “I hope it’s not the end of it, not just for the foundation and the work we do, but obviously, because we set a bar pretty high here in New England … For us now, this raffle is a godsend. I called Tommy and Brees and Gronk. Of course those guys are amazing to give us this opportunity. People want to watch greatness.”

For more info on the raffle, go to GameDayTampa.com. Light will be pulling the winning ticket on June 15.

MATT STOnE / HERALD STAFF FILE MEET AND GREET: Matt Light is raffling off a VIP experience that includes meeting Tom Brady for a Buccaneers game on Nov. 8 against Drew Brees and the Saints.

NAncY LAnE / HERALD STAFF FILE DEEP TIES: After blocking for Drew Brees at Purdue, Patriots Hall of Famer Matt Light was a pillar of the early part of the New England dynasty at left tackle.