Mark O'Donnell Honored as New England Revolution's Hero of the Match

On July 3, the New England Revolution honored Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts President & CEO Mark O’Donnell as the game’s Hero of the Match. O’Donnell joins a roster of local first responders, members of the armed forces and individuals making a difference in the community celebrated by the team during home games this season.

In 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) celebrates 75 years of service across the region. The largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England partners with families to provide children with one-to-one relationships with caring adult mentors who help them reach their fullest potential. With research and proven outcomes at its core, BBBSEM creates Big-Little matches based on shared interests, geography and personality and serves as a consistent resource for Bigs, Littles and their families. Children are paired with mentors across Eastern Massachusetts from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod and the Islands.

For the past 13 years, O’Donnell has been a BIG part of the nonprofit’s success. He took the reins at the onset of COVID as President and CEO in July of 2020. Previously, he served nine years as the nonprofit’s Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. During his tenure, he has touched the lives of thousands of youths, their volunteer mentors, his staff, members of the board and the agency’s corporate and community partners along the way, leading the organization through two periods of unprecedented growth and impact through an equity lens. Today, BBBSEM serves nearly 4,000 children and teens annually in over 150 communities from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod and the Islands.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts’ 75 years of dedication and work to support youth physically, socially, academically, and emotionally,” says O’Donnell. “I am grateful to the New England Revolution team for their help to shine a light on the importance of youth mentoring and the ripple effect mentoring a young person has beyond the individual to positively impact families and communities at large.”

O’Donnell walks his talk. As a two-time Big Brother, he has seen firsthand the positive impact that BBBSEM’s programs have on youth. Both times, the Little and his family moved away. In the moments of saying their goodbyes, he knew just how much he meant to those kids and just how much of an impact he had truly made in their lives. Mentors make a real difference in everyone’s lives, especially for children, and we need more of them.

“It’s not work when you love what you do,” says O’Donnell. "We are creating a generation of kids who have formed relationships with people who are different from them, often times racially, culturally, and socio-economically, so that they can form an understanding that will help to heal our communities. It is the smile on a child’s face when they believe in themselves and the impact mentoring on one child can have on families, school cultures and communities at large that make it all worth it.”

In its 75 years, BBBSEM has supported more than 25,000 youth. By 2028, the nonprofit aims to expand its reach to serve 10,000 youth in 150 communities statewide. For more information about BBBSEM, to become a volunteer or to register your children, visit: www.emassbigs.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of nearly 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 75 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.