When you see a Top Golf Bay filled with athletes, partners, families, friends, Special Olympics staff members, Massachusetts Law Enforcement torch run members, and even a professional football player all laughing, competing and celebrating together, you witness the true power of inclusion.  

When I first found out Mack Hollins was at Top Golf, I was happy to meet him and learn more about him because he was New England Patriots player and it was my first time meeting a Patriots player.

The Unified Fore Joy Top Golf PROAM was an event where different partners came together across to country at different Top Golf locations to help Special Olympics. This PROAM is inclusive which means there is a way for everyone to be involved! Participating teams had the opportunity to compete alongside Special Olympics athletes, all while ensuring quality sports training and competition opportunities continue for individuals with intellectual disabilities.  

Mack Hollins was interacting with everyone and helping athletes play Top Golf. He also talked to Torch Run members and Special Olympics staff members as well and hung out with families. When I was hanging out with Mack it felt like he was great friend. This is probably because Special Olympics is important to him. Mack is a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics. At this event I was able to talk to him and ask him why.

“Special Olympics is special to me because when I grew up, I had a neighbor that was a Special Olympics athlete and was able to see him grow up with it when I was just a young kid,” Mack said. “And then I got to college and one of my best friends in college had a brother who was a Special Olympics athlete, so I’d go to some of his games.”  

Mack went on to say that it felt like something was always drawing him back to Special Olympics. His first major connection to Special Olympics came years later at the Super Bowl in Miami where he did RadioRow as a Special Olympics partner. From there his relationship grew and now he is a global ambassador.

“It always keeps me grounded and knowing that it is still like a kid’s game and it’s still fun to play and in my sport at my level sometimes it can seem really all business,” Mack said. “I have to remind myself it’s still just a kid’s game. Don’t forget that. Have fun like you did when you were 10 years old, when you started playing."

"Special Olympics will always be something special to me and the more I can give back and be a part of it, the better.”

People like Mack are important to Special Olympics because Mack is Global Ambassador. He said it is his greatest honor to play Top Golf with Special Olympics athletes and watch football competitions for athletes as well and because he plays football for the New England Patriots, that’s a great feeling to have someone like him that cares. He is role model for Special Olympics athletes.

Anne DeForge is a member of the Special Olympics MA Content Squad. The mission of Special Olympics MA Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop communication skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles. As members of the Content Squad, athlete leaders contribute to Special Olympics MA story-telling through interviews, photos, video creation, and more.