TEAM DISALVO FOLLOWS THROUGH BIG TIME!

 

(In Photo: Augustine Graziano, scholarship recipient, center, Jack DiSalvo's son, Brian, left,  Salvatore Biondo Jr., Distinguished Board Member, right)

Earlier in the year we brought you the story about a well respected coach named Jack DiSalvo. Jack believed in his kids and trained and educated them and had the drive to motivate and inspire. He was a great man and was loved by many. I was taken by his story and the love around him.  When he passed away late last year, the Jack DiSalvo foundation was born and with it, the goal of presenting a scholarship providing funds and other community type resources for the growth and development of kids in New Jersey. It also focuses on supporting and improving cancer research, awareness and prevention.

On Wednesday, May 14th, the Scholarship Ceremony took place at Hawthorne High School. The Jack DiSalvo Foundation presented their scholarship to Augustine Graziano, a senior at Hawthorne High School who is going on to pursue an education in medicine. He is currently ranked 3rd in his class with a 4.3 GPA and is a Varsity Athlete, having played baseball since the age of 5.

Brian DiSalvo, Founder and Co-Chairman along with Salvatore Biondo Jr., Distinguished Board Member, presented Augustine Graziano with a Scholarship Certificate and Plaque along with a Commemorative Bat donated by Akadema.

The funds provided were a direct result of individual donations received from local residents and corporate sponsors from the First Annual “Jack DiSalvo” Charity baseball game. Just do you know, that's significant, meaning, it's not from 1 large donation... it's a community coming together.

Community driven. Pretty incredible. Read TEAM DISALVO: COMING TOGETHER FOR A GREAT CAUSE.

So what does it all mean? It means Jack would have loved to have seen this happen.  This is exactly what a guy like Jack DiSalvo would have gotten on board with, because not only was he a coach that cared about the kids, he was an educator as well.  He fought for the underdog, he helped the less confident... he believed in the kids he coached.  He was a great man and luckily for the Hawthorne community, and all of us who believe in great things, DiSalvo's name lives on with the Jack DiSalvo Foundation.  I applaud Jack's family, Brian DiSalvo and Sal Biondo and everyone involved.  A job well done. 

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