LYNN — Like a handoff from a quarterback, or a cross-court pass in basketball, the way to get things done is to assist. When it comes to the Agganis Foundation and its All-Star Games, it’s threefold across nearly 70 years.
At the urging of local Attorney Charles Demakis, the Foundation was launched by Harold O. Zimman, The Daily Evening Item, and the Boston Red Sox for whom Harry Agganis was playing when he passed away that June.
As the years went on, the stewardship was passed to others who added their own style of leadership. It must have worked, as to date, the Foundation has awarded 1,051 scholarships worth $2.42 million. Mission accomplished.
It all goes back to Zimman and Dr. Elmo Benedetto.
Zimman, who was chairman until his death in 1994, helped raise $10,043 locally just weeks after Agganis’ death, and the rest was history.
Benedetto was the driving force behind the Agganis All-Star Football Game, which he helped launch in 1956. North defeated South 19-16 behind the ground game of Lynn English’s Tippy Johnson.
Benedetto held the title of Lynn athletic director for 26 years, helping hundreds of student-athletes enroll into college. He believed there was a school for everyone, and made it happen at will.
Classroom or field, Benedetto made a difference. Look no further than the current Agganis Athletics Award in his name, given to one who embodies his devotion to student-athletes. There have been 24 recipients, with the most recent being Lynn English Athletic Director Dick Newton.
The Zimman Foundation Award is given to those who personify his commitment for academics and athletics. There have been 38 recipients, with recently-retired educator, coach, and Principal Robert Cleary of Lynnfield receiving honors this year.
And what Zimman and Benedetto created, Ted Grant enlarged.
Grant became chairman in 1988, and change followed like a tailback at Manning Field – where five of today’s nine all-star games are played.
He added a baseball game in 1995; boys and girls soccer in 1996; and softball in 1998.
Boys and girls basketball tipped off in 2005; boys and girls lacrosse in 2012.
“The Shriners (Football) Game may be the biggest all-star football game, but there’s nothing bigger than Agganis Week,” Grant said.
Grant also created the Agganis Awards – a total of five, including the Zimman and Benedetto Awards – most recently given out at Sunday’s opening ceremony.
“I wanted to get the community involved, not just football people, and recognize Elmo and Harold for their incredible accomplishments,” Grant said.
When Grant took over the Foundation, its endowment was valued at $184,411 and it had awarded $647,180 in scholarships. By the time he left (“It was time,” he said), its endowment was $1.26 million and the Foundation had awarded $1.95 million in scholarships.
The Yawkey Foundation got involved in 1999. Grant and then-Foundation Treasurer Mike Shanahan were going to a game at Fenway Park and ran into then-Red Sox President John Harrington. The connection was created, and Yawkey has contributed $600,000, resulting in 88 student-athletes from Boston receiving scholarships.
“It was just a stroke of luck,” Grant said.
In what Grant calls “a cast of thousands” by his side, these included Paul Halloran – whom Grant said was like the Elmo to his Harold – Steve Smith, Pete Pedro Jr., Shanahan, Ed Cahill, Attorney Tom Demakis, Scholarship Committee Chairmen Nick Kostan and Tom Iarrobino, as well as the late Bob Conlon, then-treasurer who “worked every game, every year” said Grant.
After it was time for Grant to step down, Andrew Demakes became president in 2019, and by his side are Chairman Greg Agganis, Treasurer Jeremy Hmura, and All-Star Games Executive Director Halloran.
“The Foundation was very healthy with the endowment,” Demakes said.
Demakes said addressing the rising costs of college was of the utmost importance when he took over.
“One of the things we started to focus on was the fact that costs were continually rising for student-athletes, or anyone that’s going to college,” Demakes said. “We thought it was imperative that we try to make headway.”
This year, scholarships doubled in value, with winners receiving $2,000 per year for each of the four years they’re in college.
“As long as they stay enrolled in school, they get money every year,” Demakes said. “Now it’s a much more valuable scholarship where people are really competing to get it, so I think that’s great.”
Decades after the Foundation was created, a goal of Demakes is to “carry on the legacy.”
“We’re trying to breathe some life into it and make sure people know we’re still here,” Demakes said. “We want to represent this area because there’s a lot of great athletes and a lot of great people here.”
In 1956, the Foundation’s goal was to raise $250,000 to honor Agganis. At $2.42 million and counting, that legacy lives on.
