The Agganis Foundation was started by the Boston Red Sox, (Lynn) Daily Item newspaper and Harold O. Zimman, who was a mentor of Agganis. Elmo Benedetto, then the athletic director for the Lynn Public Schools, came on board shortly thereafter and the first Agganis All-Star Football Classic was played in 1956.

Since its inception, the Agganis Foundation has awarded $1,436,525 to 845 student-athletes from throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Each year, 15 new four-year, $4,000 scholarships are presented. Thanks to the generosity of the Yawkey Foundation, there are four scholarships earmarked to students in Boston schools each year.

The Agganis All-Star Classics, a series of high school all-star games in softball, baseball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball and football are played annually.

Agganis Foundation, Inc. is run by a board of voluntary trustees, chaired by Thomas C. Demakis, a Lynn attorney and son of the late Charles Demakis, who was a driving force behind the Foundation at its inception. The Scholarship committee is chaired by Tom Iarrobino, secretary to the Lynn School Committee, while Paul Halloran of Grant Communications serves as executive director of the Agganis Classics.

AGGANIS HALL OF FAME

The Harold O. Zimman Foundation Award, named for Harry Agganis' mentor and a longtime driving force behind the Agganis Foundation, is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the Foundation. Past winners include:

1985 - Dr. Elmo Benedetto
1986 - Harold O. Zimman
1987 - Bernard O. Bloom
1988 - Stephen Stavru
1989 - Robert A. Dwyer
1990 - George Winkler
1991 - Elliott Roundy
1992 - Thomas P. Iarrobino
1993 - Peter Gamage
1994 - Charles Demakis
1995 - Martin C. Goldman
1996 - Thomas L. Demakes
1997 - Carol A. Hevey
1998 - Peter B. Sack
1999 - Nicholas P. Kostan
2000 - John L. Harrington
2001 - Chuck Angelopulos
2002 - Ray McDermott
2003 - Thomas C. Demakis
2004 - Peter C. Pedro Jr.
2005 - James E. Hosker
2006 - Dr. Charles Steinberg
2007 - Dan Dill
2008 - Joseph F. Riley
2009 - Richard P. Dalton
2010 - John A. DeJesus

The Paul F. Cavanagh Community Award, named for a Lynn English and Boston College football star who went on to a distinguished career in the FBI, is presented to a person who conveys the Foundation's ideals of sportsmanship, education and community. Winners include:

1990 - Joe DiVito
1991 - Barry Gallup
1992 - Peter Vaas
1993 - Peter H. Gamage
1994 - Walter J. Boverini
1995 - Angelo P. Laskaris
1996 - Stephen L. Smith
1997 - Ann Marie Leonard
1998 - Patrick J. McManus
1999 - Gerald F. Waldron
2000 - Jim Hughes
2001 - Carol A. G. DiMento
2002 - Msgr. Paul V. Garrity
2003 - Nicholas A. Lopardo
2004 - Robert F. Conlon
2005 - Dr. Herbert W. Levine
2006 - David J. Solimine Sr.
2007 - Thomas P. Costin Jr.
2008 - J. Brian McCarthy
2009 - Jansi Chandler
2010 - Jeff Newhall

The David C. Weidner Media Award, named for a promising Daily Evening Item sportswriter who died at the age of 24, is presented to a person who provides ongoing, outstanding coverage and support of youth and amateur sports in general, and the Agganis Foundation in particular. Winners include:

1993 - Bill Kipouras
1994 - Mike Lynch
1995 - Kyle Butler
1996 - Paul Halloran
1997 - Steve Krause
1998 - Allan T. Kort
1999 - Jay Polley
2000 - Bill Newell
2001 - Joyce Erekson
2002 - John Hoffman
2003 - Cary Shuman
2004 - Hank Collins
2005 - Bob Ryan
2006 - Phil Stacey
2007 - Dan Ventura
2008 - Christopher L. Gasper
2009 - Mike Grenier
2010 - Rick Moore

The Dr. Elmo Benedetto Athletics Award, named for the late Lynn athletic director who, along with Zimman, was the backbone of the Agganis Foundation for many years, is presented to a person who best symbolizes Benedetto's dedication to student-athletes. Winners include:

1999 - Ron Bennett
2000 - Frank Carey
2001 - Frank DeFelice
2002 - Mike Ginolfi
2003 - Gerard Moynihan
2004 - Bart Conlon
2005 - John Hoffman
2006 - Jane Heil
2007 - Jim Ridley
2008 - Art McManus
2009 - Ed Henry
2010 - Julie Halloran

The Attorney Charles Demakis Heritage Award is presented to a person of Greek heritage who advances the Agganis Foundation's ideals of academics and ethics. Winners include:

2005 - George Mazareas
2006 - Dr. Nicholas T. Zervas
2007 - Gov. Michael S. Dukakis
2008 - George J. Marcopoulos
2009 - Michael Antonakes
2010 - William Mantzoukas