President and Managing Director
Special Olympics Europe Eurasia

David Evangelista is President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. He also serves as Senior Advisor for International Development for Special Olympics, Inc. David is responsible for the growth and development of the Special Olympics movement across 58 nations spanning Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. As Senior Advisor for International Development, David leads efforts focused on the creation and expansion of global partnerships with United Nations agencies, foreign aid agencies, international non-governmental organizations and related philanthropic stakeholders. David has extensive experience in the areas of global government relations, industry engagement, international development, and global partnership building in support of marginalized populations. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Division of Multilateral Diplomacy for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is a member of the Centre for Sports and Human Rights and is a member of the International Board of Directors for The Access Challenge. David was a former member of the High-Level Group on Sports Diplomacy for the European Commission and a former member of the Global Partnership for Children with Disabilities for UNICEF.

An experienced guest speaker, David has delivered keynote speeches at leading universities, including the University of Chicago, Georgetown University as well as at various business institutes in Europe. He has also served as a guest speaker and presenter for the United Nations, the European Union, and a range of civil society organizations on issues related to international development, global affairs, disability, and government relations. A seasoned media commentator, David has appeared on a range of top-tier media outlets, including the BBC, NPR, ESPN, and national media affiliates across Europe, the Caribbean and North America. A Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow of the Lions Clubs International Foundation, David is the Founding President of the Washington, DC Special Olympics Lions Club and currently serves as a member of the Centennial 100 Champion Lions Club based in London.

David has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the School of International Service of American University in Washington, DC and an Executive Master’s in Business Administration/ International Business from IESIDE in Vigo, Spain. A native of Rhode Island, USA, David, resides in Vigo, Spain with his wife and their two sons.