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B’nai B’rith International has selected the Boston Red Sox and club President/CEO Larry Lucchino to receive its Community Achievement Award, which recognizes the positive impact of key corporate leaders in their respective communities. 

The award ceremony will take place on Nov. 17, 2015, at historic Fenway Park in Boston.

“The Boston Red Sox ownership group led by John Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and their partners are known around baseball for winning championships and their successes off the field, positively impacting the greater Boston area. The Boston Red Sox and Lucchino are most deserving recipients of the Community Achievement Award,” B’nai B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. 

Lucchino was instrumental in pulling together the ownership group that joined John Henry and Tom Werner in their successful effort to purchase the Red Sox in December 2001. Among all the potential suitors for the team, Henry, Werner, Lucchino, and their partners were the only ones committed to saving and improving Fenway Park. 

Together, they oversaw a decade-long project of major improvements that have enhanced the fan experience while respecting the integrity of the park and its surrounding neighborhood.

Lucchino has been President/CEO of the Red Sox since February 2002, managing the franchise on a day-to-day basis with the active involvement of, and in collaboration with, Henry and Werner. Lucchino is a 36-year veteran of Major League Baseball and previously occupied the same roles for the San Diego Padres from 1995 to 2001, and the Baltimore Orioles from 1988 to 1993. 

In addition to running championship franchises and setting attendance records, Lucchino has earned a legacy for creating ballparks that have transformed downtown areas and impacted the greater civic community. His vision for Oriole Park at Camden Yards—a traditional, old-fashioned, asymmetrical ballpark with modern amenities—ushered in an era of revolutionary ballpark architecture, while his leadership in building Petco Park saved baseball in San Diego and revitalized an under-utilized 26-block area in the city.

During their time with the Red Sox, the ownership group has established the Red Sox Foundation and distributed more than $77 million. 

Embedded in the fabric of New England’s philanthropic community, the foundation emphasizes five cornerstone programs: the organization’s 62-year relationship with the Jimmy Fund in the fight against pediatric cancer; the Red Sox Scholars program, which gives college scholarships to academically-talented but economically-disadvantaged middle school students from Boston; RBI Youth Baseball and Softball programs; the Home Base Program, which treats veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are facing post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries; and the team’s ongoing relationship with the Dimock Community Center, a leader in opioid treatment and provider of comprehensive health care, shelter, and security.

In November of 2010, the Red Sox Foundation received Major League Baseball’s first-ever Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence.

Since arriving in Boston, Lucchino, a two-time cancer survivor, has been a board member and co-chair of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s $1 billion “Mission Possible” Capital Campaign. He has also served on the board of Special Olympics International.

“As a baseball fan, it’s easy to see how ingrained teams are within their communities. The camaraderie that baseball builds within a fan base is one of the best parts of the game,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “B’nai B’rith is honored to bestow the Community Achievement Award on Boston Red Sox. It’s amazing to find a franchise that is so hands on, so passionate about building up the neighborhood and cities that surrounds this team. The team of Henry, Werner, Lucchino, and their partners are one of those extraordinary teams of executives, and I congratulate them and the entire team on this award.”