Fiore Masci’s contribution to Pop Warner recognized

MILLSTONE — Resident Fiore Masci will join an elite set of award winners that includes several U.S. presidents, countless military, business and community leaders, and hundreds of football officials and scholar-athletes from across the nation.

The Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame will honor Masci at its 48th annual Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner on March 14 for his “Contribution to Youth Football” as one of the 2009 Chapter Award winners.

Greg Bellotti, a board member of the NFF and College Hall of Fame for the past two years and volunteer for the past five years, nominated Masci for the honor.

“When you see a member of a board walking the fields, emptying trash, serving hot dogs, and smiling as kids learn the game of football and enjoy success, that’s when you know a person is committed to the long-term positive impact that football has on youth participants,” Bellotti said.

He continued, “Fiore understands that while most of the kids in Millstone Pop Warner will not play high school or college football, the lessons they learn will be with them forever, and that is the focus in Millstone Pop Warner.”

Masci recruited resident Mike Turner to take part in implementing the Pop Warner program in Millstone in 2002.

Turner, who did not know Masci at that time, said, “Right away, I could see this man was energetic and passionate about bringing Pop Warner football to Millstone. His energy and commitment made me want to be a part of this program 100 percent.”

Prior to 2002, Millstone children who wished to participate in Pop Warner sports had to do so in neighboring towns. Masci served as Millstone Eagles Pop Warner president 2002-08. While president, he also served as assistant coach to various Pop Warner tackling levels.

Since the inception of the program, nearly 2,000 football players and cheerleaders have participated in the Pop Warner experience and have earned multiple championship status, including being named national, regional and Central Jersey Pop Warner champions.

For the past two years, Masci has served as vice president of Central Jersey Pop Warner (CJPW), one of the largest Pop Warner conferences in the country.

CJPW comprises 28 towns within the state of New Jersey and has nearly 7,000 boys and girls ages 5 to 15 participating each year.

Masci has resided in Millstone for the past 10 years with his wife, Judi, and three children, Joshua, Rachel and Brett.

Since 2008, he has held the elected position of committeeman. He also served as recreation commissioner 2004-08, providing oversight to all youth and adult recreational activities within the township.