Bryan Grillo and Dana Vermilya are 2024 John Crawford award winners. Our last recipients of the 2024 John Crawford award winners will share this post. It’s actually quite fitting because both of these volunteers just enjoy helping people. We combined their efforts into one post because their teamwork made a big impact. Just like John Crawford, he didn’t want the spotlight, he just wanted to help.
Dana Vermilya and Bryan Grillo are both receiving their second John Crawford award for their excellence in volunteerism. Both volunteers push the boundary of volunteerism and both are deserving of their second annual John Crawford award. To learn more about John Crawford’s contributions to the team, please read this article.
Health & Safety First
One of the most important things in life and with the Renegades is health and safety. We preach safety and have influenced changes in the league to promote it. This includes work on bat safety and lobbying for a rule change on bat throwing. We may be the only team in the league traveling with a shovel in case divots need filling. Without going into details, we had a health incident this season and Dana and Bryan were two people who jumped in to help make it better. They dedicated time off the field to make phone calls, travel to a player’s house and work with their family to help them navigate the issue and the system. Their family even told us that the Renegades have helped bring back a part of their loved one whom they had not seen in years and that they were grateful to the team and these two volunteers for the efforts. For privacy reasons, we can’t say much more, but the entire Renegade family knows the important role and the time and effort that both Dana and Bryan had in this situation.
David Sanchez says, “I’d like to express my gratitude to Bryan and Dana. They are coaches of the Boston Renegades Beep Baseball team and they do an awesome job on and off the field. We need more volunteers like them for the survival of this organization. The selfless hours they spend with the players off the field to assist us in our personal situations is really greatly appreciated. They always go the extra mile for us and we wouldn’t be better citizens without them. Well-deserved this award for two of the selfless, encouraging volunteers that I got the pleasure to know.”
Joe McCormick adds, “This year in particular Dana stepped up during a couple of tricky health situations on our team and helped out the affected individuals as well as keeping our whole team in the best position to compete.”
Rob Thayer states, “Bryan, you’ve gone above and beyond for me and the Renegades! You helped me stay on the field, helping me replace my cleats when they tore my feet up to the point where I was almost out of the game, and stayed with me in the Emergency room when I was suffering from vertigo. Then helped me with groceries while my daughter was in the hospital, and even helped me and her get back after a visit from the Emergency Room. You’ve been helping me from 2011 until now, and you never rest when the team needs you. Congratulations!”
Both Bryan and Dana went above and beyond in other ways that we need to recognize.
We need Bryan Grillo’s help!
Marina Cortez, Bryan Grillo and Shayne Cantan host a table to promote the Boston Renegades
In April, the Renegades were supposed to play in the first ever beep baseball game at Fenway park. Leading up to the event, Bryan Grillo volunteered to take on the work to make that event a success. Joe McCormick states, “Off the field, Bryan went above and beyond this year, leading the coordination of a special event with the Red Sox. While the event was postponed, his effort in managing logistics and working with five organizations showed his incredible dedication.” This work included hours of phone calls with five organizations to discuss fundraising, public relations, marketing and game day operations. Additionally, the team required more hours to brainstorm and collaborate internally. Bryan worked effortlessly on this from February till the end of April. McCormick adds, “Everyone who knows Bryan will tell you he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, and I’m proud to call him a friend. His kindness, commitment, and leadership make him truly one of a kind.” Sadly, all of this work did not see an immediate result as the game was postponed due to rain. We will reuse and improved upon these efforts to play the game in 2025!
Bryan also took it upon himself to run a few other events to help the team get into the community. He worked with multiple Lions organizations this season. While doing this, he not only helped spreads the gospel of the Renegades benefits, he helped drive people to and from the events, picked up supplies and owned the events.
Help from Dana Vermilya
Dana and Melissa at a July 2021 practice, as Dana watches the base running and Melissa awaits her turn
Dana also jumped in with two feet when the team needed a hand. Again, without sharing details, one of the coaches grew sick and would be unable to perform their role. On short notice, Dana filled the role. This included a crash course in learning to score the team’s defense. She also helped so many players with medical issues during games. We even used her nursing skills to help the team contain a COVID breakout that knocked two Renegades from participation. Dana was a savior to the Renegades helping it run smoothly with its biggest roster in its 25 year history. Joe McCormick says, “Dana plays an essential role for the Boston Renegades. On the field, she helps players improve their base running and fitness, while off the field, she supports the team’s health as part of the medical staff.”
Melissa Hoyt adds, “Dana not only encourages and makes players want to work hard She helps players and the team with health stuff and will try different roles without much fanfare as a volunteer. Off the field she will give players rides when able, help with diet or exercise tips and does her best to be at Renegade things whether games or events in spite of working a ton and sometimes that means not just long days with us but then potentially extra-long days right after with work but she is undeterred. Her positive attitude and ability to motivate among other qualities are greatly appreciated.”
In Summary
We can’t thank Bryan and Dana enough for all their efforts when there is a crisis or someone in need. They are always willing to volunteer to help and go the distance. This is exactly what John Crawford did when we met him in Iowa. This is a perfect reason why they are both second year recipients of the John Crawford award!
Guy Zuccarello sums things up well, “Our squad is so fortunate to have such a committed group of volunteers and coaches supporting us and making it possible to play this sport, but I am so happy that two of them in particular are being recognized for their special efforts this year. I have known Bryan for nearly twenty years and I can confidently say he is among a small handful of the kindest, most caring and empathetic people I have ever known. He puts his heart and soul into this team and does whatever he can to support each of us not only as players on the field, but also as people off of it. Similarly, Dana never hesitates to offer her help wherever it is needed. She is a constant presence at practices and is still willing to give even more of her personal time to work with us individually between practices or during the off-season to reach personal training goals or to simply get healthier. I will never cease to be amazed by the life changing help she has given to several of my teammates. Congratulations to both of you for some well-deserved recognition.”
Past Award Winners
2024 marks the 3rd year of these awards. To learn more about the contributions of our other amazing volunteers, please check out the links below:
- 2024 Award winners
- 2023 Award Winners
- 2022 was the inaugural season for this award.