August 6 , 2004

MGH and the Revolution score big

Thirty-six kids had the experience of a lifetime July 13 at Gillette Stadium
in Foxboro when the MGH Human Resources Department and the MGH Council on Disability Awareness held a soccer clinic with the New England Revolution soccer team. Four players and a coach ran drills with the kids, played a soccer version of "Simon Says" and officiated a real game of soccer.

"The kids came with a 'can do' attitude," says Oz Mondejar, MGH Human Resources manager and disability coordinator. "The clinic really fulfilled
its objective of giving an opportunity to kids with different abilities to
participate in this sport."

The participants came from the Home For Little Wanderers, Helping Hands Foundation and the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. A few also came from the MGH, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
To cap off the event, each of the 36 kids was given a souvenir soccer ball, an MGH T-shirt and a team picture of the Revolution. All the kids had their souvenirs autographed by the Revolution players and coach who were present.

"The clinic was a wonderful opportunity for the children to make new friends and learn the value of team sports through fun and engaging soccer activities," says Michelle DiLisi, of MGH Human Resources and one of the coordinators of the clinic. The clinic was conducted in partnership with Matt Quinn, director of Community Relations for the New England Revolution team.