2023 "Giving Back" Grant Recipients

Babe Ruth Baseball of Stamford

Stamford Stars Softball

Stamford National Division LIttle League

Stamford American Division Little League

Stamford Bombers Baseball League

2023 Wellington Mara Award recipients

Pictured above (from left to right): Bill Arnone (MLJF Board Member), Craig Baker (2023 Mara Award Recipient), Rick Farina (MLJF Board Member), Butch LaMotta (2023 Mara Award Recipient), Rick Robustelli (MLJF Board Member)

Craig Baker – Stamford Little League

and

Butch LaMotta  – Babe Ruth Baseball of Stamford

Jerry "Butch" LaMotta has been involved in coaching Babe Ruth Baseball in Stamford for 45 years. Butch sets high examples as a coach, many of his players are now coaches themselves today due to the lessons they learned from him and still use to this day.  He has always interacted with the players, parents and other coaches with respoect.  He strives to be a positive role model and works to teach the players not only baseball skills but also life lessons.  

Butch exemplifies sportsmanship on and off the field.  He is a role model and mentor for his players, fellow coaches and parents. Butch is dedicated to the development of each and every player to bring out their best on and off the field.  In addition to taking his specific team responsibilities seriously and mentoring the players he coaches, Butch has also been a reliable person to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.  Butch LaMotta is a true ambassador for the game of baseball and the youth of Stamford.  

Previous recipients

2022 - Jennifer Sheridan - Stamford YoungTimers Girls Basketball

2022 - Joseph Claps - Stamford North Little League & Flag Football (First Down Club)

2021 - Bryan Fox - Stamford Stars Softball

2021 - Jonathan Hoch - Stamford North Little League

2019 - Michael Deenihan - Stamford American Little League

2019 - Greg Milburn - Stamford Youth Hockey Association

2018 - Joe Calendrelli - Stamford North Little League

2018 - Jaime Camacho - Stamford Youth Wrestling

2016 - Pete Hansen - Stamford Lacrosse Association

2014 - Bobby Robustelli - Springdale Little League

2011 - Mike Battinelli - Stamford Junior Wrestling

2009 - Junie DeLeo - Springdale Little League

2008 - Billy DeVito - National Little League

2007 - Michael Crocco - Stamford Youth Soccer

Award for Youth Excellence

The Fund seeks to recognize outstanding young people in their sophomore year in order to encourage them to set positive goals and be a positive influence among their peers throughout their high school career.

This award, a college scholarship in the amount of $7,500, is offered to one sophomore boy and one sophomore girl every year from Stamford High School and Westhill High School. The applicant must be a resident of Stamford at the time of applying and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Award for Youth Excellence Recipients »

Mara Award

The Wellington Mara Award recognizes an exemplary individual who volunteers time and talent to provide opportunities for youngsters in any city-sanctioned, nonprofit sports league in Stamford. The award includes a $2,500 contribution to the nonprofit organization for which the individual volunteers.

In creating a youth-coaching award, the Lione Fund continues to support and perpetuate the values that made Wellington Mara a legendary sports leader. He believed that the valuable qualities and lessons that can be learned on the field of play should, if well taught, carry over to all aspects of life. He taught by instruction but, more importantly, by example. The Lione Fund reinforces this ideal and these qualities in the naming of this award after Mr. Mara, who held himself to the highest standards of honor and respect for self, family, and community.

Mara Award Recipients »

“Giving Back” Grants

These grants allow Stamford youth to participate in organized city sports that would otherwise be unavailable because of financial hardships.

“Giving Back” Grant Recipients »

Award for Youth Excellence

2024 Recipients (Class of 2026):

  Hailey Heigel
  Stamford High School

  Logan Pearle
  Stamford High School 

 Angela Russell
 Westhill High School

  Aidan Mulcahey
  Westhill High School

All recipients:

Award for Youth Excellence Scholarship:

Eligible candidates must be a sophomore at Stamford High School or Westhill High School, be a resident of Stamford, CT and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.  Students who choose to apply for this award will be required to complete an application provided by their high school’s guidance department. Information required on the application includes:

• high school transcript current to April this year
• academic honors
• athletic participation
• extracurricular activities at school
• honors, citations, awards, and notable achievements
• community involvement and volunteer activity
• 500-word essay
• two letters of recommendation

Each high school has its own nominating committee responsible for reviewing all applications and nominating six finalists, three boys and three girls. An Award Selection Committee from the Fund will determine the winner of the $7,500 Mickey Lione Jr. Award for Youth Excellence and the runners-up based on a review of the applications and a personal interview with each of the students from each school. All runners-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship under the same terms as the winner.

Upon successful completion of their senior year of high school and upon choosing to continue their education at an institution of higher learning, the scholarship is made available to the award recipients and runners-up to assist with that further education.

The recipient and runners-up must attend an accredited college, university, or technical institute within two years of high school graduation. The recipient and runners-up will be expected to maintain a standard of behavior that is consistent with the values both taught and practiced by Mickey Lione, Jr.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The scholarship application process begins in February each year, with applications to be submitted no later than April 1st. Please contact your high school guidance department for further information and specific details with regard to the submission process. Applications directly submitted to the Fund will not be accepted.

Mara Award

Individuals, teams, and organizations can nominate an individual for the award. The nominated individual must be a volunteer and work directly with the program’s participants as a coach.

The program must be a Stamford-sanctioned House League association that is open to all Stamford residents.

A nomination letter as well as a brief history of the nominee’s background with the program should be sent to the address below by May 1st of each year.

Click here for the application

“Giving Back” Grants

Grants are awarded to organizations that align with the sports Mickey Lione, Jr., participated in and coached: baseball, football, hockey, and basketball. Requests for financial assistance for Stamford resident youths’ participation in a Stamford House League program that is open to all residents can be forwarded to the address below. A full disclosure of the organization’s financial information must be made available.