Tony Villiotti knew what it meant to get another chance, and he made his count.

After receiving a lifesaving liver transplant in 2018, Tony and his wife, Betsy, founded what is now Liver Education Advocates. He turned his experience into a mission: helping others understand liver disease, find support and use their own experiences to help someone else.

The Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year program carries that mission forward, honoring his lifelong love of baseball and his belief that a person with an idea and the determination to act could make a difference.

One Rookie. A Starting Lineup of Stories.

Selected patient and caregiver advocates will form our Starting Lineup, with opportunities to share their stories, connect with one another and bring greater visibility to their efforts.

One individual will be named Rookie of the Year and receive up to $10,000 to launch or grow a specific idea or program that helps people affected by liver disease. That could mean a support group, educational resource, community education or screening event, storytelling project, or an idea we haven’t imagined yet.

Your support helps build the whole program: sharing patient and caregiver stories, creating connections and opportunities for emerging advocates, and funding the Rookie’s initiative. Together, we can help more people turn lived experience into meaningful support for others.

Rally Your Team or Step Up With a Gift

Start a fundraising team with your family, friends or coworkers in honor of a patient or caregiver, in memory of someone you love or in celebration of your own journey. Share why this matters to you and invite others to join.

You can also make a direct gift. Every contribution helps advance the next Starting Lineup and build a stronger patient advocacy community.

Tony helped build something meaningful from his second chance. Help us give the next advocate an opportunity to build what comes next.

Join the team. Advance the legacy.

Learn more about the program and sign up for application updates at liveradvocates.org/rookie. Applications open in spring 2027.

Join the Team. Advance the Legacy.

Help Build the Next Starting Lineup