BOSTON - Matt Light, whose 11-year National Football League career was played entirely as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots, has been named Man of the Year Award by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston last week at the club’s 17th annual NFL Legends Night Dinner.

“This was a great event. It reminded me of all the amazing people who have had a huge impact in my life over the years playing in the NFL,” Light said. “The award is special to me because I know the Gridiron Club’s goals are very similar to The Light Foundation’s goals. We are both working to build strong leadership, good citizenship, academic achievement, and social and financial responsibility.”

Founded in 1932, the Gridiron Club promotes football at all levels and nurtures the ideals of citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership, and athletic and academic achievement. Through its annual dinners and golf tournament, the club carries on its tradition of honoring exemplary players, coaches and officials at all levels of sport.

Many former National Football League players were in attendance including teammates, Kevin Faulk and Joe Andruzzi, who gave speeches honoring Matt and the work he’s done over the past 11 years.

Proceeds from the dinner and accompanying raffles of tickets to Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Boston College games benefited the Light Foundation.

“We are thrilled to honor Matt, who is one of the sporting world’s finest citizens as well as a superb football player,” Ingoldsby said. “His career with the Patriots, which includes three invitations to the Pro Bowl, All-Pro honors, three Super Bowl championships, and 155 games started out of 158 played, speaks for itself. Before spent 11 seasons protecting Tom Brady’s blind side from pass rushers, he was doing the same for Drew Brees at Purdue.”

Light played four seasons at Purdue and was drafted in the second round by the Patriots in 2001. The Pats won their first of three Super Bowls during his rookie year. Matt was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 2006, 2007, and 2010, and was an All-Pro pick in 2007.

“Matt’s services to young people through the programs supported and run by the Matt Light Foundation have been exceptional,” Ingoldsby said. “The Gridiron Club is pleased to have the foundation join the ranks of the many fine charities that our Man of the Year Dinners have supported since 1998.”

Matt received the Patriots’ Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2005, and following his retirement from football in 2012 he received the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award from Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.