Project Play WNY announces 2024 Coaches Honor Roll & Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award recipients

Recognizing dedicated youth sports coaches from across region

Press Release

Project Play Western New York (WNY) is proud to announce the 25 coaches named to its annual Coaches Honor Roll and the 2024 Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award recipient.

Athletes, parents and members of youth sports organizations from across the eight counties of Western New York submitted more than 200 nominations for 84 coaches. The selected honorees will be recognized at the “Thank You Coach” event at Highmark Stadium on Oct. 20, in partnership with the Buffalo Bills.

“We’re proud to recognize and celebrate our local youth sports coaches, who dedicate their time to play an important role in young athletes’ lives,” said Aaron Hord, director, Project Play WNY. “A positive youth sports experience can lay the foundation for children to become healthy, happy adults. The coaches named to the 2024 Coaches Honor Roll and our Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award recipient all demonstrate the values that help ensure a supportive, nurturing environment for our youth athletes.”

Now in its fifth year, the Coaches Honor Roll recognizes non-scholastic youth sports coaches who work with athletes ages 13 and under. Honorees demonstrate the qualities of a great youth sports coach, focusing on youth development, promoting sportsmanship, and demonstrating leadership and integrity. These coaches also exemplify the values of Project Play WNY, an initiative that aims to provide a more inclusive and supportive environment for youth in the region.

2024 Coaches Honor Roll:

Danielle Alba, Northtowns Cheerleading

√ Coby Albone, Lockport Ice Arena & Sports Center Inc.

√ Brendan Altman-Cosgrove, Niagara PAL Soccer Club

√ Matthew Burke, Hertel North Park Youth Baseball & Softball League

√ George Fitzpatrick, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns

√ Rechelle Frerichs, Autumn’s Gate

√ Rodney Giove, Niagara PAL Soccer Club/Niagara United FC

√ Fierra Green, Buffalo All-Star Extreme

√ Jeffrey Gruarin, Village of Youngstown Recreation Program

√ Yanava Hawkins, Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program

√ Beth Insalaco, Hertel North Park Youth Baseball & Softball League

√ Nicholas Johnson, Lackawanna Little Loop Football

√ Grace Lefever, Lighthouse Soccer League Inc.

√ James Lord, River Rock Baseball League Inc.

√ Pa Lu, Karen Society of Buffalo Soccer

√ Troy Lubanski, Buffalo Area Aquatics Club

√ Kevin Mason, Clarence Soccer Club

√ Nakya McCann, Buffalo All-Star Extreme

√ Quinton McClain, Buffalo Police Athletic League

√ Brittnee Perry, Buffalo Police Athletic League

√ Jason Quinones, GEK In The Game

√ Brian Rademaker, Clarence Soccer Club

√ Shaun Smith, Lyndonville Little League Summer Series

√ Norm Titterington, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns

√ Jennifer Tyner, West Side Baseball/Softball/Tball League

The Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award recognizes an individual who has used their platform as a youth sports coach or youth sports organization leader to support, recognize and advocate for youth athletes both on and off the field, for a decade or more. The award honors the legacy of Dick Gallagher, a tireless youth sports advocate and Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee, who also dedicated his professional life to helping young people struggling with addiction.

2024 Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award Honoree:

√ Jim Horne, Jim Horne Golf Foundation

Horne has dedicated his retirement to teaching golf fundamentals and etiquette to youth from disadvantaged communities at no cost to their family. The Jim Horne Golf Foundation is committed to expanding diversity in the sport by providing opportunities to underrepresented groups. The nominations submitted for Horne, including one from Rick W. Kennedy, the immediate past managing partner of Hodgson Russ LLP, described his unwavering commitment to mentoring youth and included heartfelt reflections about his impact.

“When I first met Mr. Horne, I was a hurting and poor 12-year-old boy who wanted to learn how to play golf. He taught me to play with skill and integrity,” Kennedy said. “He made golf accessible to me and enriched my life. His other lessons helped carry me out of poverty and into a professional life I could not have imagined as a child.”

More information on each honoree can be found at https://projectplaywny.org/thank-you-coach-event.

Project Play Western New York is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s youth sports and recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program. Project Play Western New York envisions a community in which all children have the opportunity to be active through sports. Every child – regardless of location, income or ability – should have access to fun and fulfilling physical activities that build confidence and set them on a path for lifelong success. For more information, visit www.projectplaywny.org.

For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a lifelong generosity of spirit by funding the foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires Jan. 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Wilson’s desire for the foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information, visit www.rcwjrf.org.