FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution constantly strive for greatness on the field, but the players also take great pride in their charitable efforts within the community, all year long.
While the entire roster pours their hearts into these initiatives, one particular Revolution player stood out during the 2019 campaign for his selfless contributions off the field. Scott Caldwell is constantly seen giving back to the New England community - the one he himself grew up in - and for the first time in his career was officially recognized for all that he does as he was named the Revolution 2019 Humanitarian of the Year.
What makes this award even more special for Caldwell is his personal ties to New England as a native of Braintree, Mass.
“I think it’s very important to be involved in the community, especially as a professional athlete having the platform that we have,” said Caldwell. “Being able to go out into the community, being from here, putting a smile on kids’ faces.
“I was proud to win that, and I know that our team does a very good job out in the community, and I’m excited and happy for all the guys that do all that work.”
While Caldwell is the type of athlete that loves being able to use his platform to make a difference in the community, he does so modestly and humbly. His teammates recognize that he doesn’t do any of this charitable work for self-promotion, but rather because he is purely a giving person.
“Everybody knows how important Scotty is to this organization, especially on the field, but it shows how much he’s done off the field,” said teammate and former roommate Andrew Farrell. “He’s always going to deflect it, but he’s such a good person.
“He’s one of my best friends. He does it because he has time, or he does it because he wants to impact someone’s life. It’s not for credit, it’s not to get recognition – it’s just to be a good person, and that means, I think, the most to people who are close to him.”
While the Massachusetts local frequently makes an impact in people’s lives, there was one charitable initiative that made a lasting impact on Boston sports history. Caldwell became the first-ever active professional athlete to march in the Boston Pride Parade on June 8, 2019, as he proudly walked beside members of the Revolution front office and the club's supporters in the Midnight Riders.
“I was very happy to do it,” Caldwell told Wicked Local Scituate. “I was surprised and upset that I was the first active athlete to march. Guys had expressed interest in the past and I always wanted to do it but we always had a game or something else came up. This year the opportunity presented itself, and it’s a great cause.
“I think it’s really important that everyone respects one another. It doesn’t matter how you grew up, who you love, and I’m just happy I can be an ally for such a great cause.”
The Boston Pride Parade was only a glimpse into one of many key moments for Caldwell in the local community.
Caldwell is also heavily involved with Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA), whom the Revs have teamed up with for the past five years. Caldwell has been a key figure with the Revs’ SOMA Unified team, as he helps raise funds for SOMA throughout the season, cheers on the SOMA athletes at their matches, and has developed a close relationship with the Special Olympians off the field.
Farrell, who won last year’s Humanitarian of the Year award, is another significant player representative for SOMA. A rewarding moment for this SOMA Revolution duo was passing out the medals to the Special Olympians after they defeated NYCFC’s Unified team at Gillette Stadium in late September, which capped off an evening in which the Revs clinched their own playoff berth.
“Scotty is one of the nicest people I’ve ever gotten to know,” said Farrell. “It makes it fun to do things that you enjoy with people that you enjoy, and doing good things is one of the best things you can do. Doing that together has been a lot of fun.”
With seven years on the Revolution roster and a record of charitable efforts, and with a new contract signed this past March, Caldwell will without a doubt continue to make an impactful impression on the New England community.
