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About the Larry Bruno Foundation

Celebrating our 15th year anniversary, the Larry Bruno Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the support of Beaver Falls native, Joe Namath, will expand our Hall of Achievement and History Center at our new building located at 1112 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls. Our foundation recognizes the achievements of Beaver Falls community members and provides scholarships and offerings to students from Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, Beaver County Christian School, and surrounding communities for their academic and athletic accomplishments.

Our purpose is to inspire and realize the American Dream and its pursuit of happiness towards all members of our community.

The Larry Bruno Foundation's Mission is building a culture for the Beaver Falls and surrounding communities by acknowledging and revering those who dedicated their lives to the betterment of their communities, by providing scholarship grants to assist our youth to maximize their potential, and by supplying knowledge and tools for our parents and our youth to become successful citizens. Larry Bruno coached his teams to dream by teaching "If you don't dream, your vision will never happen."

How will we achieve our vision: Our communities have been blessed with an overwhelming number of successful individuals in all walks of life. Our youth will be taught or mentored that they too can achieve the same results. The Foundation provides scholarships and coaching skills and builds a curriculum that teaches and emphasizes the daily use of the seven attributes of the magical coach: Reverence, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Motivation, Discipline, and Communication.

2025 Circle of Achievement Inductees

2025 Circle of Achievement Honorees

1996 Beaver Falls High School Softball Team

Team members pictured:

Row 1: Sharon McCue, Amanda Hollen, Rebecca Fabian, Melissa Diruscia, Heidi Gumbert, Jonalyn Kos, and Kelly Balmer

Row 2: Coach Pat Pietrandrea, Julie Weir, Bethany Pinkerton, Nicole Balmer, Mandy Large, Diane Fabian, Jessica Kolson, Kristen Knox, and Head Coach Hope Pacella

1996 Beaver Falls High School Varsity Softball Team

Section 2 AAA Champions WPIAL Runners-Up PIAA Semi-Finals

 

The 1996 Lady Tigers Softball Team completed the regular season with an overall record of 14-1 and a section record of 12-0. The Lady Tigers claimed the section title, won three playoff games before losing a heart-breaker in the WPIAL Finals to Baldwin. The Lady Tigers did advance to the PIAA Semi-Finals.

Junior Bethany Pinkerton earned section MVP honors for the 2nd consecutive season.

1997 Beaver Falls High School Softball Team

Team members pictured:

Front Row: Julie Weir, Kelly Balmer, Bethany Pinkerton, Jonalyn Kos, Kristen Knox
Middle Row: Rebecca Fabian, Heidi Gumbert, Jessica Kolson, Mandy Large, Sharon McCue
Back Row: Amanda Hollen, Nicole Hoover, Lorri Hollibaugh, Rachel Paparella

1997 Beaver Falls High School Varsity Softball Team

Section 2 AAA Champions – WPIAL Quarterfinalists

The 1997 Lady Tigers softball team finished the regular season with an overall record of 14–2 and a section record of 11–1. After dropping the section opener to Ambridge, the team won 11 consecutive games to capture its third straight section title.

Junior Bethany Pinkerton earned Section MVP honors for the third consecutive season.

Past Inductees

2011

Joe Namath
Jim Mutscheller
Larry Bruno

2012

Bruno Campese
Frank Chan
Oscar Jackson
Joe Walton
Frank Walton

2013

Joe Lonnett
Candy Young
George “Tookie” James
Bill Blair
Rich Niedbala

2014

Paul Bischoff
Karl Florie
Joy Jeter
Tom Krzemienski
Ed Olkowski
Bill Ross

2015

Justin Crepp
Teri Turconi
Jack Damaska
John Jackson
Joe Tronzo
Ted Heath

2016

Lou D’Achille
Luann Guzzetti-Richardson
Joe Ursida
Bert Kerstetter
John Mazza

2017

Bobby Lawrence
Tom Tribone
Kevin Scanlon
Dave Podbielski
Jim Campbell

2018

Jean Ann Higgins
Jim Ebersberger
Anthony Esoldo
Rick Mancini
Rocky Washington
Eugene Palka, Jr.

2019

Robert “Bob” Blythe
Glenn Dennison
David Miller
Charlene Taylor
Ken Yonkee

2021

Al Carbone
Dwight Collins
Lou Cynkar
Mike DeChellis
Elizabeth “Betty” Douglas
Sheryl Main
Rich McMillen

2022

Paula Nahal Alessi
Alvin Gibson
Van Golmount
Gene Harr
Broderick Hauser
Lynn Hill
Gene Palka, Sr.
Henry “Butch” Rousseau

2023

Patti Bellan-Gillen
Ed DeRose
Lance Jeter
Pete Kinkead
Tom Kirkpatrick
Bill Livingston
Larry Matrazzo
Jim McCarl
Ron Sciarro

2024

Don Bocchi
Russ Chiodo
Angie Kirkland Simmons
Ron Main
Hal McClain
Lou Pappan
Bethany Pinkerton-Mitcheltree
Bill Ross

Past Honorees

2011

1960–1961 BFHS Tigers Football Teams

2012

1970 BFHS Tigers Basketball Team

2013

1977 & 1978 BFHS Girls Gymnastics Teams

2014

1952 BFHS & Jr. Legion Baseball Teams

2015

1975 BFHS Boys Baseball Team
1985 BFHS Girls Basketball Team

2016

1984 BFHS Football Team

2017

1979–80 BFHS Basketball WPIAL Champs

2018

1961 BFHS Baseball WPIAL Champs

2019

2016 BFHS WPIAL & PIAA Champs

2021

The Granati Brothers

2022

1972 BFHS Football Team

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