Stamford Ford Lincoln continued a long tradition of charitable giving by distributing 130 baseball gloves to three local Little League teams on Saturday, February 28th, from 10am to 12pm. The event took place at the Stamford Ford Lincoln dealership, 212 Magee Avenue in Stamford. On hand to help was Stamford native and baseball legend Bobby Valentine. Mr. Valentine signed gloves, took photos, joked and gave baseball advice to the youngsters.
Mr. Valentine, nicknamed “Bobby V,” was born in Stamford in 1950, and has remained active in the community throughout his life and career. He was recruited by the University of Southern California while attending Rippowam High School in Stamford. In 1968, he was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Valentine went on to play Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1979. After retiring as a player, he managed professional baseball clubs from 1985 to 2012 in America and Japan. From 2009 to 2011, he worked for ESPN as an on-air analyst. Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia named Bobby the Director of Public Health and Safety in 2011. Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Café has operated in Stamford since 1980. Mr. Valentine is currently the athletic director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Stamford Ford Lincoln, owned by Dominic Franchella, is a family-owned business in its fifth year as Connecticut’s #1 Ford and Lincoln dealer for sales and customer service. Mr. Franchella and the dealership have a history of charitable giving. Stamford Ford Lincoln often works with the Stamford Boys and Girls Club, most recently giving twelve local families a free month of groceries each during the 12 Families of Christmas Event.