August 12, 2011

SCHOLARSHIP FUND CREATED IN MEMORY
OF LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, SPORTSMAN

By Melissa Traynor, The Hartford Courant

EAST HARTFORD — Rep. Henry Genga announced Thursday the creation of a scholarship fund in memory of the late Frank Benettieri, who owned Frank's Willow Inn on Main Street.

In a statement, Genga said that a committee of the Willow Inn Hot Stove League, a group of locals who meet and chat about baseball every Tuesday morning at the inn, decided to establish a fund in Benettieri's name to honor him as a businessman, sportsman and philanthropist.

Benettieri, a former Little League coach and volunteer, passed away in May at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer.

"Frank has left a legacy of volunteerism and generosity, especially in raising money for decades for children with cancer," Genga said. "He was an inspiration for all and it's only fitting that we create a scholarship in his name."

The committee that created the fund is made up of coaches, athletes, politicians, and Benettieri's friends and relatives.

"Frank was a big supporter of the Jimmy Fund and would frequently recruit his best friend, Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, to help raise money," Genga said in a statement. "Williams would travel to East Hartford to assist Frank in raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Jimmy Fund, part of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston."

The scholarship fund will benefit East Hartford students who are scholar-athletes only. Those who wish to donate money to the funds can make out checks to the East Hartford Public Schools — with "Benettieri Scholarship Fund" in the memo line — and send it 1110 Main St., East Hartford 06108.