PRESS ARCHIVE
Lione foundation
gives a big assist to youth football
Bob Kennedy, Sports Editor
Courtesy of The Stamford Advocate, November 5, 2003
02003 Southern CT Newspapers, Inc.
The late Mickey Lione, Jr. is remembered by many as a baseball and hockey coach who won 731 games and six state championships at Trinity Catholic High School.
It is often overlooked that Lione, who died in 1999 at the age of 59, was also a football coach. As an assistant at both Trinity Catholic and New Canaan, he was an integral part of three state championship teams.
Through the efforts of many of his friends, Mickey Lione will now be remembered by a new generation of football players.
"Following his death, a group of friends - spearheaded by Bobby Valentine - established the Mickey Lione Jr. Foundation. Its mission is to support, encourage and motivate Stamford's students into becoming outstanding scholars, citizens and athletes and to become leaders and role models in the community.
The Mickey Lione Jr. Scholarship for Youth Excellence was established, and since its inception in 2001, 15 scholarships have been presented to Stamford students.
Through the efforts of many, the Lione Fund has raised thousands of dollars at celebrity golf outings and its Celebrity Wine and Food Experience.
In addition to awarding scholarships, the foundation wanted to do more.
"We formed the foundation to enrich the lives of children in our community," Valentine said.
It recently did enrich the lives of children in the community. The foundation donated $100,000 - $10,000 a year for 10 years - to be used for scholarships for the Stamford Youth Foundation's Middle School Football program. The division will now be known as the Mickey Lione Jr. Division.
"We wanted children in town who wanted to play (football) but couldn't afford the fees to be able to play," Valentine said. "We felt we could offer scholarships to 100 players or so a year so everyone who wanted to play had the opportunity."
"We also wanted to make this age group aware of the Mickey Lione Fund because scholarships are available to 10th graders. The younger they have an awareness of the Lione Fund, the more chance of them applying and being granted scholarships."
"The partnership with the Lione Foundation is a natural partnership and this will help thousand of children for years to come," said Marc Lyons, the founder of the Stamford Youth Foundation. "It's a partnership that truly benefits the city of Stamford and its children."
"There couldn't be more of a tribute to what Mickey stood for. He was my friend but, more important, he was a friend of children throughout Stamford." Lyons added. "What a great tribute for his name to be used to help children for years and years to come."
Media Relations
If you want to obtain information for articles or television/radio programming contact:
Tom Chiappetta
The Mickey Lione, Jr. Fund
84 West Park Place 3rd Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
Phone: 203 984-4806
Fax: 203 966-2973Press packets are available. Permission must be secured for all photograph and video use.