Doug Mello, chairman of the Chris Mello Foundation, stands on the gridiron where his late son excelled.

High School Sports

Football Alumni Plan Golf Outing to Fund the Chris Mello Scholarships

By Mitch Silver

 

Ever since the Mello family lost their son Chris, a member of the Rye High Class of 1994, on 9/11, Doug Mello has chaired a foundation that provides college scholarships for football players from Harrison and Rye high schools. Originally funded by a gift from Doug’s colleagues at Verizon, the fund now depends on contributions from the public. To that end, the 2^nd Annual Harrison/Rye Chris Mello Scholarship golf event will be held on Monday, October 7, at Rye Golf Club. Lunch, a cocktail reception, dinner, and a 50/50 raffle and live auction at Whitby Castle will be included with a day on the links among friends. The fee per player is $250; foursomes pay $900. The reception and dinner alone are $75.

 

Speaking on the field where his son co-captained the Garnets, Doug Mello said, “We’re hoping to continue to foster the spirit of sportsmanship Chris brought to life and the game of football by raising enough money to give these scholarships in perpetuity.”

 

The younger Mello was a three-sport varsity athlete whose academic proficiency landed him a place at Princeton University. Each year, the Chris Mello Foundation chooses one scholar-athlete player from the Garnets and one from the Huskies with the help of the principals, athletic directors, and coaches at each school.

 

Rye Athletic Director Michael Arias said, “The Chris Mello Memorial Scholarship fund is so important to the Rye/Harrison game because it helps both communities come together to remember the importance of sportsmanship.”

 

“And we give the awards out on the field before the game,” Mello said. “This isn’t about being the player of the game. Even if it’s The Game. It’s bigger than that.”

 

Golf outing tickets and sponsorship information are available by contacting Doug Mello at (914) 391-5500 or djm@dougmello.com.