The Silvio Cella Family Foundation today announced the 2014 recipients of its annual grant program, providing high school football teams in Massachusetts funding to help improve playing conditions, increase player safety and participation, build teamwork, pride and confidence, and help players prepare for their future. Annually, four high school football programs each receive a $3,000 grant to help players and coaches be successful on the field and prepare student-athletes for college, careers and family. Since established in 2010, the Silvio Cella Family Foundation has donated nearly $50,000 to high school football programs throughout Massachusetts.
The 2014 recipients of the Silvio Cella Family Foundation grants are:
North: Greater Lowell Technical High School, Coach Shane Abrams
South: Cathedral High School, Coach Duane Sigsby
Central: Doherty High School, Coach Sean Mulcahy
West: Monument Mountain Regional High School, Coach Bill LaGrant
“This much needed grant money will help these schools improve player safety and upgrade facilities and equipment, and build a sense of teamwork and community in these schools,” said Michael Cella, president, Silvio Cella Family Foundation. “We are honored to carry on my Dad’s legacy and support high school football in Massachusetts.”
Each school receives $3,000 from the Silvio Cella Family Foundation, to be used to support their football programs, as outlined in the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) guidelines.
Previous recipients of the Silvio Cella Family Foundation grants were: Northeast Metro Tech, Randolph High School, Blackstone-Millville Regional High School and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School (2013); Lawrence High School, Jeremiah Burke High School (Boston), Millis High School and Ware High School (2012); and Framingham High School, Fitchburg High School and Pioneer Valley Regional High School (2011).
This year, the Silvio Cella Family Foundation has partnered with the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI) — a non-profit organization that strives to advance the study, treatment, and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups — to provide concussion education to each of the schools receiving grants. SLI’s Advanced Concussion Training program, to be led by SLI co-founder Chris Nowinski, will fulfill mandatory training requirements for all high school coaches and trainers as part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health annual certification. Players from each team will also participate in a concussion awareness lecture as part of the SLI Community Educators program (SLICE).
“The Silvio Cella Family Foundation is commitment to player safety, and to preserving the integrity of high school football generations to come,” Michael Cella added. “Silvio Cella was an innovator on the field, and a champion for athletes and coaches. He motivated his players and those around him to give 100 percent, not only in football but especially in the classroom, at home and in the community.”
“We’re pleased to partner with the Silvio Cella Family Foundation on this effort to educate high school coaches and players, and to raise awareness about concussions,” added Chris Nowinski, SLI founding executive director. “Much attention is focused at the college and professional levels, but our youth and high school athletes need to be tuned in as well.”
About SLI
The Sports Legacy Institute (SLI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 by Dr. Robert Cantu and Christopher Nowinski to “solve the concussion crisis” by advancing the study, treatment, and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. SLI achieves this mission through education and prevention programs, advocacy, policy development, and support of medical research. SLI collaborates with the Boston University CTE Center and supports the SLI-BU CTE Brain Bank. For more information please visit SportsLegacy.org, Facebook, or Twitter.
About Coach Silvio Cella
Coach Silvio Cella helped mold thousands of young men during his 49 year career as head football coach and athletic director at Revere High School, leading his teams to five Greater Boston League (GBL) championship titles, two undefeated seasons (1963 and 1973), and the Massachusetts High School SuperBowl II (1973). He was the winningest coach in the school’s history. As an All-American football standout at Boston University, playing and later coaching under the legendary Buff Donelli, and as an active-duty Marine during World War II and decorated veteran, he learned about leadership, commitment and innovation. As the head football coach at Revere High, he taught discipline, loyalty, teamwork and integrity, to build character and prepare his players to succeed in life.
About the Silvio Cella Family Foundation
The Silvio Cella Family Foundation was established in April 2010 to carry on Coach Cella’s legacy, to help give high school football programs the support needed to be successful on the field and to prepare young men for college, careers and family. Each year, the Foundation awards grants to high school football programs in Massachusetts demonstrating need. For more information visit www.silviocellafoundation.org.