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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

Joe Namath

Jim Mutscheller

Larry Bruno

Bruno Campese

Frank Chan

Oscar Jackson

Joe Walton

Frank Walton

Joe Lonnett

Candy Young

George “Tookie” James

Bill Blair

Rich Niedbala

Paul Bischoff

Karl Florie

Joy Jeter

Tom Krzemienski

Ed Olkowski

Bill Ross

Justin Crepp

Teri Turconi

Jack Damaska

John Jackson

Joe Tronzo

Ted Heath

Lou D’Achille

Luann Guzzetti-Richardson

Joe Ursida

Bert Kerstetter

John Mazza

Bobby Lawrence

Tom Tribone

Kevin Scanlon

Dave Podbielski

Jim Campbell

Jean Ann Higgins

Jim Ebersberger

Anthony Esoldo

Rick Mancini

Rocky Washington

Eugene Palka, Jr.

Robert “Bob” Blythe

Glenn Dennison

David Miller

Charlene Taylor

Ken Yonkee

Al Carbone

Dwight Collins

Lou Cynkar

Mike DeChellis

Elizabeth “Betty” Douglas

Sheryl Main

Rich McMillen

Paula Nahal Alessi

Alvin Gibson

Van Golmount

Gene Harr

Broderick Hauser

Lynn Hill

Gene Palka, Sr.

Henry “Butch” Rousseau

Patti Bellan-Gillen

Ed DeRose

Lance Jeter

Pete Kinkead

Tom Kirkpatrick

Bill Livingston

Larry Matrazzo

Jim McCarl

Ron Sciarro

Don Bocchi

Russ Chiodo

Angie Kirkland Simmons

Ron Main

Hal McClain

Lou Pappan

Bethany Pinkerton-Mitcheltree

Bill Ross

Kevin Wagoner

Julie Weir Gott

Joe Smartz

Ron Rowan

Pat Nardelli

Calvin C. Brown

Past Honorees

1960–1961 BFHS Tigers Football Teams

1970 BFHS Tigers Basketball Team

1977 & 1978 BFHS Girls Gymnastics Teams

1952 BFHS & Jr. Legion Baseball Teams

1975 BFHS Boys Baseball Team

1985 BFHS Girls Basketball Team

1984 BFHS Football Team

1979–80 BFHS Basketball WPIAL Champs

1961 BFHS Baseball WPIAL Champs

2016 BFHS WPIAL & PIAA Champs

The Granati Brothers

1972 BFHS Football Team

1996 BFHS Varsity Softball Team

1997 BFHS Varsity Softball Team

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