Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year program will award one patient or caregiver up to $10,000 to help others affected by liver disease; applications open in spring 2027
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Liver Education Advocates is launching one of its late co-founder Tony Villiotti's final program ideas: an award to help another liver patient or caregiver turn personal experience into support for others.
The Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year program will award one individual up to $10,000 to launch or grow a specific initiative that educates, encourages or supports people affected by liver disease. Applications open in spring 2027. Program information and a signup form for application updates are available at https://liveradvocates.org/rookie/.
"My dad knew what it felt like to be a patient searching for answers. After his transplant, he wanted to help other families have the information and support he wished we'd had," said Gina Madison, the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit's executive director and Villiotti's daughter. "This program was one of his final ideas. He believed that someone with lived experience and a willingness to do something could make a difference."
Villiotti received a lifesaving liver transplant on March 18, 2018, after a journey through fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. He and his wife, Betsy, founded NASH kNOWledge, now Liver Education Advocates, later that year. Before his death in 2026, he helped develop the Rookie program, combining his commitment to patient advocacy with his lifelong love of baseball.
Selected finalists will form an inaugural Starting Lineup, with opportunities to share their stories and connect with fellow advocates. One finalist will be named Rookie of the Year. The award must be used to carry out the recipient's proposed initiative.
The program is for individual patients and caregivers who have an idea or need support to grow an effort they recently started. "Rookie" describes where someone is in their advocacy journey. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
An initiative could be a peer support group, an educational resource, a storytelling project, a community workshop or a liver screening event developed with qualified healthcare partners. Applicants are encouraged to propose other ideas based on needs they have seen firsthand.
The program emphasizes experiences with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, a form of fatty liver disease linked to metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, involves liver inflammation and damage that can progress to serious scarring. These conditions often cause few or no symptoms.
The focus also includes MetALD, a form of liver disease involving both metabolic risk factors and alcohol. Patients and caregivers from across the liver disease community are welcome. Full eligibility requirements, selection criteria and application deadlines will be published when applications open.
A launch film shares Villiotti's story and the inspiration behind the program. It was produced by filmmaker and fellow liver transplant survivor Chris Burns, founder of Ayumi Creative.
"You don't need a large following or a formal advocacy role," Madison said. "You may have an idea that could help another family. We want to hear it."
The inaugural Starting Lineup is expected to be introduced in summer 2027, followed by the first Rookie of the Year announcement in the fall. Details about a celebration honoring the finalists and Rookie will be announced later.
To watch the film, sign up for application updates or learn about supporting the program, visit https://liveradvocates.org/rookie/.
About Liver Education Advocates
Liver Education Advocates is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit founded by Tony and Betsy Villiotti in 2018. Through patient and caregiver support, community outreach and education in English and Spanish, the organization helps people understand liver disease and the importance of early detection. Learn more at https://liveradvocates.org/.
Media contact
Gina Madison
Executive director, Liver Education Advocates
412-929-6741
Media Contact
Gina Madison, Liver Education Advocates, 1 412-929-6741, [email protected], www.liveradvocates.org
SOURCE Liver Education Advocates
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