FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (June 7, 2023) – New England Revolution players, coaches, fans, and partners joined together with Special Olympics Massachusetts for Bowl for a Goal presented by Arbella Insurance on Wednesday night at Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Patriot Place. The Revolution Foundation’s premier annual fundraising event returned for the first time since 2019 and raised a record amount of approximately $125,000, all benefitting Special Olympics Massachusetts and its Unified Sports® program.
“The Revolution are overjoyed to have partnered with Arbella Insurance to host Bowl for a Goal for the first time since the pandemic. To see it return with our biggest and best event yet is a thrill for us all who care deeply about supporting Special Olympics Massachusetts,” said Brian Bilello, president of the New England Revolution. “The Revolution and Special Olympics are perfectly aligned in our belief that sports can be a powerful tool to bring people together and break down barriers. We are proud to be nearing a decade of Unified soccer with Special Olympics and we look forward to many more years.”
The 2023 season marks the ninth year of the New England Revolution’s partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts’ Unified Sports® program, supported throughout by the Arbella Insurance Group. The Revolution Unified Soccer Team, which consists of 16 local athletes and volunteers, began its season on April 24th at the team’s annual signing day at Gillette Stadium. About 1.2 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, which break down stereotypes about athletes with intellectual disabilities and promote social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Visit SpecialOlympicsMA.org to learn more about Unified Sports®.
“Bowl for a Goal is one of our favorite events of the year. Not just because it is a ton of fun and raises a ton of money for the athletes of Special Olympics – which it is and does! – but because we get to show Revs sponsors and fans that Special Olympics athletes can and should be treated as the rock stars they are!” said Mary Beth McMahon, President & CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Of course, none of this would be possible without the support from Arbella. They are an incredible partner of Special Olympics Massachusetts, providing opportunities for athletes to express themselves on and off the field of play.”
Since the first Bowl for a Goal event held in 2015, the New England Revolution Foundation’s flagship team event has now raised nearly $500,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts, including this year’s total.
“Arbella Insurance is proud to support Special Olympics Massachusetts and to play a part in this wonderful event, which has grown remarkably since we first hosted it with the Revolution years ago,” added Gayle O’Connell, Executive Vice President and CMO of the Arbella Insurance Group. “We look forward to many more years of working with the Revolution and helping Special Olympics celebrate the inclusive power of sports.”
The Revolution Unified Soccer Team will play two games this season at Major League Soccer stadiums against out-of-state opponents, beginning on Saturday, June 17th at Gillette Stadium against the Chicago Fire FC Unified Team from Illinois. The match starts immediately following New England’s MLS home game against Orlando City SC (7:30 p.m.). The Revolution Unified Team will then hit the road for a match against the Nashville SC Unified Team in Tennessee on Sunday, August 20.
