FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Belmont resident Holly John has been named the New England Revolution’s 2011 Community MVP and will be recognized for her community efforts prior to the Revs’ match against Philly on July 17, 2011, at Gillette Stadium.
In conjunction with MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s philanthropic arm, and The Home Depot, the official home improvement retailer of MLS, John earned the Revs’ club selection and will travel to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star game in New York on July 24, alongside other MLS club selections for their outstanding dedication and commitment to making a difference and improving their local communities.
“Holly is an outstanding example of how selfless people in our communities can make a difference,” Revolution Chief Operating Officer Brian Bilello said. “Her dedication to helping a young boy from another country is exemplary, and she is a model for how individual efforts can have a broader impact.”
John was honored for her efforts after taking in and caring for a young boy from Haiti named Giovanni, who was badly burned and injured in Haiti in 2008 - losing a significant portion in his skull – while risking his own safety trying to save his friend’s life after several of his friends were exposed to an electrical cable while playing soccer on a roof.
Giovanni came to the U.S. to receive medical care at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. John took Giovanni into her home and has cared for him since, dressing his wounds, comforting him and helping him re-connect with his family back in Haiti. John has become a part of Giovanni’s extended family and will be there for his upcoming reconstructive surgeries and recovery.
John is now vying for a $10,000 grant for the charity of her choice – The LDS-Haitian Relief Fund. A grand prize winner will be chosen through online voting at Facebook, which is underway and will continue until Friday, July 22, at 5 p.m. ET. To vote for John, fans should “like” MLS on Facebook (facebook.com/MLS) and visit the MLS W.O.R.K.S. tab. The grand prize winner will be announced at a halftime recognition ceremony of the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.
For up-to-the-minute information on the Revolution, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net, or follow the team on Twitter at @NERevolution, or on Facebook at facebook.com/NERevolution. For more information about Revolution tickets, including multiple-game packages and special offers, call 1-877-GET-REVS or visit revolutionsoccer.net.
