Youth of Distinction
Joseph Marino

Joey Marino is CCFA's first-ever Youth of Distinction Award winner and also a recipient of a 2005 National Hero Award. He is a graduate of Desert Vista H.S and has lived with Crohn's Disease since the tender age of four years old. Coping with the debilitating effects of Crohn's has not been easy for Joey -- he has had several major surgeries leading to the removal of his entire colon, in hopes of beating the disease. Although his surgery and recovery was extensive and difficult, he was still able to maintain excellent grades and became involved with helping others with health concerns. Unfortunately, after only 8 months following his colon removal, Crohn's Disease returned, requiring him to again be on immune suppressant drugs until a cure is found. Joey's own personal experience has led him to go to extraordinary efforts to help others and to raise money to find a cure.
Joey has a passion for baseball and often serves his community through his love of the sport. By the time he was 10 years old, Joey was already volunteering by helping handicapped children play baseball in the Little league "Buddy" program.
Since then, he has organized three baseball tournament and camp fundraisers that have drawn national attention. Prior to the most recent tournament, Joey created this website to serve as a platform to tell his story and to put a face to Crohn's disease. By utilizing this web site, he was able to promote his tournament locally and nationally, and he enlisted the participation of numerous sports celebrities. His latest tournament drew 750 players and their families and was a huge success. Joey's extraordinary efforts for these three tournaments and camps raised over $51,000, all of which he donated to CCFA for research on Crohn's and Colitis. In addition, past Baseball Camps featured Chris Cron (White Sox), Don Wakamatsu (Rangers), Bob Geren (A's), Rod Allen (Tigers), Tony Womack (Yankees), Chilli Davis (Yankees), Jason St. Clair (Devil Rays), Rod Allen Jr. (White Sox), and Jeff Duncan (Mets). The camps are directed by Desert Vista head baseball coach Stan Luketich, his coaching staff and players.
Joey has earned much respect throughout our community for his incredible determination. Arizona State University baseball coach Pat Murphy, describes Joey as "his hero". He says of Joey, "Not many people can go through what he has and still have the strength to go out and help." Joey continues to demonstrate his strength of spirit and compassion for others by becoming involved in many different charitable activities, such as volunteering for the Special Olympics and speaking to teens about using courage and inner drive to get through life's difficult times.

Joey hasn't let his battle with Crohn's keep him away from sports entirely - he is now able to enjoy a new pastime - motorcross. And while he has not been able to keep up with his true love of playing baseball, he's a real major league player in the eyes of his loved ones and admirers because he not only continues to get up to bat for himself, but for others as well.