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Matt Reis Selected as 2013 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year

In a banner day of MLS Awards for the New England Revolution, veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis was named the 2013 MLS Humanitarian of the Year for his actions both during and after his father-in-law John Odom was injured in the Boston Marathon bombings earlier this year.

By Jake Catanese
Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis was voted by the MLS Community as the 2013 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year the team and league announced today.

On April 15, the finish of the 2013 Boston Marathon was disrupted by two bombs, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others. An MBTA Police Officer was also killed in the ensuing manhunt for the suspects.

Matt Reis' father-in-law John Odom was severely injured during the bombings, and it was the actions of Reis, using his belt and jacket as makeshift tourniquets, that enabled first responders to treat Odom and save his life. Odom remained in Boston Medical Center for over two months before rehabbing his injury further, and returned to his southern California home in September, about five months after the bombings.

At Matt Reis annual charity golf tournament, he raised $125,000 for the John Odom Recovery Fund and Odom himself started the tournament with an honorary tee shot.

"Matt has always been a tremendous ambassador for our club, but his actions and response on April 15 really showed how amazing of a person he is," New England Revolution president Brian Bilello said. "Matt has been our team's humanitarian of the year the last three years for his fundraising efforts for various charities, but this year he absolutely deserves league-wide recognition from his peers, clubs around the league and media.

"Throughout his family's ordeal with John, Matt balanced everything and continued to be an advocate for the bombing victims while being a leader for our team," Bilello continued. "His stellar performance at the end of the season just reiterated what a tremendous impact Matt has for our club on and off the field."

Matt Reis' detailed the events in an episode of "MLS Insider" calling his actions on that day "the best save I've ever made."


Reis help guide the Revolution to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference and a berth in the MLS Playoffs for the first time since 2009. He posted a 7-0-4 record with a 0.72 GAA in 2013, and is the only keeper in MLS history to post an unbeaten record with at least 10 starts.

The Revs have had two previous winners of the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year award, Michael Parkhurst in 2006 and Zak Boggs in 2011.

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