'Heart of a Giant' Award Winner Traveled To The Super Bowl With Family

PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — Eduardo Recinos, the Putnam Valley High School junior who won this year's Heart of a Giant Award, was sent to the Super Bowl as part of his prize.

The Heart of a Giant Award winner’s prize also included a $1,000 equipment grant for the Putnam Valley High School football program for being a finalist, and another $9,000 equipment grant for being named program winner — totaling $10,000 for the school’s program.

Recinos was a relative newcomer to high school football.

He approached Putnam Valley High School football coach Ryan Elsasser last season after wanting to find a way to be a part of the team for years. He initially asked if he could play and practice with the team, and was offered the position of team manager, which excited Recinos and the players.

This season, Recinos committed himself to the team and attended every practice and all games, as well as providing motivational support for the team through engaging with and pushing the players to achieve their goals, his coach said.

Due to his diagnosis, he spends his school day offsite in BOCES programs designed to build his vocational skills and independence. However, his role as team manager has allowed him to expand his social circle, and touch so many lives with his incredible story of defiance and perseverance.

USA Football was honored to reward Eduardo Recinos with this year’s Heart of a Giant award, USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said at the time. “The Giants and HSS have been exceptional partners during the past decade. We look forward to continuing to collectively celebrate students and athletes who display the same unmatched perseverance and love for the game as Eduardo.”