Vince Lombardi
Award Banquet

presented by the
Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County, NJ USA
and the
Center for Vocational Rehabilitation



PURPOSE - The Annual Vince Lombardi Awards Banquet honors a lineman from each Monmouth County high school football team. The individuals selected to receive this special award best exemplify the traditions, beliefs and ideals of the legendary coach Vince Lombardi. The Lombardi committee also selects and honors a 'Coach of the Year', a 'Team of the Year' and a football player to receive the coveted 'John Tuggle Award' for overcoming extreme adversity, dealing with overwhelming challenges and yet still succeeded.

The 40th Vince Lombardi Award Banquet
will be held
 Thursday, March 8, 2012 6 pm
 at the
 Sheraton Eatontown Hotel
Hwy 35 & Industrial Way East
Eatontown, NJ 07724



"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile."  --Vince Lombardi

HISTORY - Originally started by the Rotary Club of Houston as a national award on the college level, the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County received special permission from the Lombardi family to present this awards program on the high school level.

SUPPORT - The Lombardi Banquet Committee would like to thank everyone who has contributed to make this special awards program an annual success. By supporting this event you are demonstrating your commitment to our community.

Since 1973, the Vince Lombardi Awards Banquet has received much publicity and recognition, partly due to the well known sports figures who have participated in the event. The funds raised from this event have aided the fight against cancer through the American Cancer Society, supported the many community service projects of the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County, and have helped the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation to fulfill its mission of self-respect and social independence for people of special needs.


Lombardi Award Winners by Year

 Class of 2011 - March 3, 2011

BIOGRAPHY - Vince Lombardi is considered by most sports fans to have been the best NFL football coach of all time, but many believe him to be the greatest coach of any American sport. He is best known for coaching the Green Bay Packers in the 1960's where he led them to win Super Bowls I and II. Before his career ended he would lead the Packers to 3 more Super Bowl appearances. Many don't reallize he also coached the New York Giants as well as the Army's Black Knights of West Point prior to joining Green Bay.

Coach Lombardi was a man of character and believed in finding the best in his men both on the field and off. He has proven to be an inspiration, not just in sports, but for all of us in life. That's why the National Football League's Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor. Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913 in Brooklyn. He died in Washington DC at the early age of 57 on September 3, 1970 leaving a lagacy still unmatched to this day. Vince Lombardi and his wife Marie are buried in Mount Olivett Cemetery, Middletown, NJ. Learn more about the life of this inspirational man on the Vince Lombardi official website.

RECOGNITION - Special thanks go to the many volunteers from the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County and the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation. The Lombardi Awards Banquet takes months of planning and preparation. We also want to thank the head coaches and their assistant coaches who give so much of their time to train and mentor their teams not just with the skills of football, but in the life principles as exemplfied by coach Vince Lombardi.

Individual clubs that have contibuted to make this annual banquet a success include:

Rotary Club of Asbury Park
Rotary Club of Belmar-Wall
Rotary Club of Freehold
Rotary Club of Long Branch
Rotary Club of Matawan-Aberdeen
Rotary Club of Red Bank
Rotary Club of Spring Lake-Brielle
Rotary Club of Tinton Falls

For more information contact Diane Rotondelli at 732-544-1800 x231 

Copyright 2000-2012 Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County, NJ USA © 2012. All Rights Reserved.