Volunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics Connecticut Winter Games, from the dedicated coaches to the cheering fans and the countless Eversource employees who donate their time every year to organize the events hosted at our Windsor facility. We have been a proud partner of Special Olympics Connecticut for more than 30 years – a testament to our commitment to supporting the communities we serve and being a driver of positive change in the lives of our customers. For Chief Gas Distribution Mechanic Billy Christopoulos, the chance to give back wasn’t his only motivation when he decided to get involved and volunteer for the Winter Games this year.

“One of the athletes, Chris Amadeo, is a close family friend who’s had such a huge impact on me personally,” said Christopoulos. “A few years ago at his birthday party, I remember watching him play wiffleball with his coworkers, and he was just so happy and carefree. It really put things into perspective for me, so I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer with Special Olympics so I could support him in the Winter Games.”

Christopoulos signed up to be Amadeo’s official escort for the competition, and he was there for his friend every step of the way this weekend – from walking out together during the opening ceremony to being each other’s first high five when Amadeo crossed the finish line in his snowshoeing heats.

“It meant so much having Billy there for me,” said Amadeo. “I loved seeing his smile! We had the best time laughing and joking around.”

“It was so empowering to watch him and all the other athletes compete,” added Christopoulos.

After months of hard work and training, Amadeo and his teammates won four medals this weekend, including a gold in the 4x50 relay for snowshoeing.

“I’m so proud of myself! But it’s not all about winning, it’s about having fun,” Amadeo reflected. “I love Special Olympics so much, and having Billy there made me so happy. He was my good luck charm.”

Christopoulos says he plans to continue being that good luck charm for his friend for years to come.

“This is definitely going to be an annual volunteer event for me,” said Christopoulos. “Working at Eversource, we have so many opportunities to get involved and give back to the community. I would highly recommend taking advantage of the company’s volunteer program because it’s just the most rewarding experience.”