CJ Costabile is familiar with HEADstrong.
Holmes, PA – Annually, the HEADstrong Foundation recognizes a collegiate lacrosse player taking their career to the professional level that demonstrates exemplary leadership and is committed to servicing the community and using their professional stature to promote the cause.
The HEADstrong Foundation is proud to introduce CJ Costabile as their 2013 Player Spokesman. Costabile will become a member their honorary Team of Champions and will join the HEADstrong Foundation’s efforts in facing-off against blood cancer.
CJ will continue his athletic career as he joins the Long Island Lizards this summer. Costabile joins a select group of athletes who have previously held this honor including: Paul Rabil, Ken Clausen and Bill McGlone.
Recently, the three-time All-American CJ Costabile of Duke University was selected as the 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse for outstanding academics and dedication to serving the community.
Costabile has a tie to blood cancer which makes his new role with the HEADstrong Foundation all the more significant. Costabile recently befriended a survivor of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma who was diagnosed in 1995.
Costabile is an All-Atlantic Coast Conference academic team selection and conference honor roll member. In the community, Costabile and his teammates make dinner for families at a local Ronald McDonald houses once a month. He also volunteers at Duke Children’s Hospital.
"The Headstrong Foundation is known throughout the lacrosse community for their extraordinary work in the fight against blood cancer. I truly believe in what the organization is doing and stands for. That is why it is an honor and privilege to be named Headstrong Foundation’s 2013 spokesman." – CJ Costabile
“We are honored to introduce CJ Costabile as the newest member to our Team of Champions. He embodies the all of the characteristics that the HEADstrong Foundation stands for. He is a towering figure in the sport and is a great role model for our youth. He honestly reminds me a lot of my son Nick. We wish to congratulate CJ on this accomplishment and welcome him into the HEADstrong family.” - Cheryl Colleluori, HEADstrong President and Nick’s Mom
About the HEADstrong Foundation
HEADstrong Foundation works to advocate, raise funds for and to support those affected by blood cancer or working to eliminate it. HEADstrong Foundation generates funds for blood cancer research, distributes grants and provides assistance to patients and survivors of blood cancer. In addition, HEADstrong Foundation awards scholarships and grants for students with ambitions of entering the medical field. Founder Nick “Head” Colleluori” attended Hofstra University where he played lacrosse. While at Hofstra Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While sick he began counseling other patients and began laying the framework for what would become the HEADstrong Foundation, in an effort to raise cancer awareness and help others and future patients that found themselves in a similar situation. In August of 2006 he even found the strength to play in one last lacrosse game. Nick passed away on November 28, 2006 at the age of 21. Even though he is gone, his memory and relentless determination lives on through the HEADstrong Foundation.