Red Sox honor Ciolfi as Rhode Island Little League Volunteer of the Year

The Cranston Herald ·

David Ciolfi stepped down this year after serving a seven-year stint as the president of Edgewood South Elmwood/Cranston East Little League.

Ciolfi, who has taught local kids baseball and life skills for nearly two decades, privately made it known to the other Little League presidents around the state of his choice earlier this year.

Shortly after that, Ciolfi was notified that he would be receiving a well-deserved and prestigious award – something that caught him off guard.

“I decided after 19 years (of volunteering my time), that it was time for me to do other things with my life, so I stepped away,” Ciolfi said. “I sent an email to the rest of the league presidents saying that I was stepping down. The next thing I knew, I got an email from the Boston Red Sox saying that I had been chosen as the Rhode Island Little League Volunteer of the Year. I was stunned.”

So, Ciolfi and his family were treated as celebrities last Tuesday night as the Red Sox took on the Cleveland Indians, with the organization giving Ciolfi and his family great seats, and Ciolfi was brought out onto the field to be recognized and shown on the big screen. The Red Sox even gave him a jersey, even though he was quick to point out that he’s a Yankees fan.

“It was a night that I’ll never forget,” Ciolfi said. “I didn’t expect it.”

Ciolfi urges others to volunteer their time in something they truly believe in. For him, teaching and coaching kids for the last 19 years has been a gratifying experience.

“The big thing that I stress is the volunteering,” Ciolfi said. “Everyone wants to do a lot of things, and they want to do it for money. I tell the kids to find something you’re passionate in, whether it’s Special Olympics or helping senior citizens, and just volunteer your time. It’s so rewarding. For me, it was coaching kids.”