Evan Heller

Heller's Angels

            Evan Heller may seem like an ordinary high school freshman in the fact that he likes to spend time with his friends, play sports (Evan is on the tennis, soccer, and track teams at Attleboro High School), and even to play on his computer. But there is something about Evan, 15, that sets him apart from most high school students: he is an avid volunteer for Special Olympics Massachusetts.

            The Attleboro native volunteers with Heller’s Angels, a local Special Olympics team run by Head Coach, Caron Heller, also his mother. For the last six years, Evan has been a peer coach and a fundraiser for the team. He also takes on a more challenging role, acting as a 1 on 1 buddy for those athletes needing extra assistance sometimes. For Evan, the most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing the excitement on the athlete’s faces when they win a medal.

            Recently, all of the wonderful work Evan does for Special Olympics was recognized by the New England Patriots. He became the youngest recipient of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Community MVP Award of 2008. As stated in the Sun Chronicle, “Since the beginning of this decade, the Patriots have recognized community volunteers for service to others in the six New England states.” Heller was presented with a check for $1,500 by Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft for Heller’s Angels and was also able to meet former Patriot and 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Andre Tippett.

            “We are so proud to have Evan as a part of our core volunteer team,” said Meg Benevides, Special Olympics MA Associate South Section Director. “We are an organization run by volunteers and without dedicated individuals like Evan our athletes would not have the opportunities they have today. We thank Evan for his time, compassion and energy and congratulate him on this amazing accomplishment.”