Sharon Gregg Bolognese of Harrisburg and David Hatt of Downingtown received the 2013 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association Service to Youth Award during Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s Annual Award Reception, Saturday, March 8th at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast.
“The Service to Youth award is one of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer's most prestigious awards, and has been awarded annually since 1979,” said Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. “Both Sharon and David have, over a significant period of time, made outstanding contributions to youth and the sport of soccer in our community.. They have dedicated their time, both on and off the field, to instilling the principles of good sportsmanship, the development of youth in soccer, and the promotion of soccer within Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, as well as its leagues and teams. All of us at Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer are proud to honor Sharon and David for all their work.”
Sharon Gregg Bolognese became active with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in 1984. She became a member of the association’s board in 1984 and has been active in the Harrisburg area at the same time, serving on the board of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League from 1984 to 2011. Gregg Bolognese started the ODP program for boys and girls in the Harrisburg area, calling it League Select, and also established the Silent Soccer Weekend to honor former CPYSAL board member Steve Stabinger. She also opened the first office for CPYSL, and helped the clubs reach compliance with the rules and statutes of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.
She coached in the Lower Paxton Soccer Association from 1984 to 1989, coaching first in the rec program, and then organizing one of the first girls travel teams. Gregg Bolognese has also coached in the CLASSIC Soccer League, and was one of the most instrumental in Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s efforts to get the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) to recognize girls’ soccer at the high school level. She then became the first girls soccer coach at East Pennsboro High School. She has helped organize the volunteers and support staff for several international men’s and women’s soccer games played in the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas, and also helped form and organize support programs and staffing for several pro teams established in Central Pennsylvania including the Hershey Impact, Harrisburg Heat, Hershey Wild Cats, and the City Islanders.
David Hatt has been a member of the Spirit United Board of Directors since 1979, and has served as the club president six times. He served a coach for the Sprit for 10 years. A former member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Board of Directors, Hatt has been a District Commissioner with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for 15 years.
Hatt is currently Chairman of the Board for Spirit United Soccer Club, and a Club liaison to the Downingtown and Coatesville Area School Districts. Previously, he was a DELCO Soccer league delegate for five years.
He was the founder of the Spirit Kick-Off Classic, and the tournament’s director for nearly 20 years. Hatt was Instrumental in developing girls’ soccer within the Spirit United Soccer Club as well as the Downingtown School District, and was instrumental in the purchase of property and developing the partnership with United Sports in Downingtown. Among his many honors, Hatt is a member of the DELCO Soccer League Hall of Fame, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and was selected by the Philadelphia Union as a Hometown Hero Honoree.