Coach Jerry Gatto "I Believe" Memorial Fund
Coach Jerry Gatto was a legend in the baseball community. He coached at Cleveland High School and led the program at Lewis & Clark for over 20 years. He also had an important but perhaps lesser known role in fostering the development of Friends of Baseball. Each year, Friends of Baseball holds an annual subsidized coaches clinic to train volunteer coaches -- this clinic’s first home was on the Sunday following legendary coach Jerry Gatto’s NW Baseball Coaches Convention.
At the beginning of each season Coach Gatto issued “I Believe” cards to all players & coaches. Jerry’s mantra, which you can see on the screen, was not just baseball related, it was life related. He stressed to believe in yourself, have confidence yet remembering to also believe in your teammates. Believe that something good is going to happen. As you will have adversity, you may not get that win, yet it’s the preparation on how you deal with adversity that success
can be attained. The team mantra continues as a life philosophy for many of the people who Coach Gatto coached and guided.
Following his passing in early spring, the Gatto family reached out to inform us of a lasting gift from Jerry from NW Star Academy — a $5000 seed fund to start the Jerry Gatto “I Believe” Memorial Fund.
At our 2019 Swing for the Fences Gala, our supporters raised an additional $10,500 for the first year of this fund. These funds will be used each to honor an "I Believe" Volunteer Coach of the Year. The first Volunteer Coach selected to be honored was former Parkside Little League Coach Jai Blair At our Coaches Clinic each year, Coach of the Year will be awarded they will receive a $500 honorarium in their name for their community league and support young ballplayers’ development and access for quality programs.
Please submit nominations to info@friendsofbaseball.org
Thank you!
At the beginning of each season Coach Gatto issued “I Believe” cards to all players & coaches. Jerry’s mantra, which you can see on the screen, was not just baseball related, it was life related. He stressed to believe in yourself, have confidence yet remembering to also believe in your teammates. Believe that something good is going to happen. As you will have adversity, you may not get that win, yet it’s the preparation on how you deal with adversity that success
can be attained. The team mantra continues as a life philosophy for many of the people who Coach Gatto coached and guided.
Following his passing in early spring, the Gatto family reached out to inform us of a lasting gift from Jerry from NW Star Academy — a $5000 seed fund to start the Jerry Gatto “I Believe” Memorial Fund.
At our 2019 Swing for the Fences Gala, our supporters raised an additional $10,500 for the first year of this fund. These funds will be used each to honor an "I Believe" Volunteer Coach of the Year. The first Volunteer Coach selected to be honored was former Parkside Little League Coach Jai Blair At our Coaches Clinic each year, Coach of the Year will be awarded they will receive a $500 honorarium in their name for their community league and support young ballplayers’ development and access for quality programs.
- I believe in myself.
- I believe in my teammates.
- I believe something good is going to happen.
- I believe that through hard work I will achieve success.
Please submit nominations to info@friendsofbaseball.org
Thank you!