Bernie’s Book Bank is a proud beneficiary and charity partner for the Patrick Mannelly Award, celebrating the best college Long Snappers in the country. The 6th Annual Patrick Mannelly Award will be on Saturday, December, 14th, 2024! This year, we are thrilled to welcome Chicago Bears’ all-time leading scorer Robbie Gould and Northwestern Football head coach David Braun, with Laurence Holmes from 670 The Score serving as our host for the evening. Secure your tickets today!

With shared values of excellence, integrity, effectiveness, teamwork, and balance, both the Patrick Mannelly Award and Bernie’s Book Bank aim for the award to be recognized by the National College Football Awards Association, which recognizes 25 awards on an annual basis. Recognition will not only acknowledge the incredible college Long Snappers, but it will also provide an opportunity for national awareness of Bernie’s Book Bank, which has the potential to benefit so many children.

The 5th Annual Patrick Mannelly Award Dinner and Award Presentation was held at Bernie’s Book Bank on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Guests enjoyed dinner, drinks, and a lively discussion with ESPN Chicago’s David Kaplan special guests, NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, Chicago Red Star Arin Wright, and ABC 7 sports anchor Dionne Miller.

The event concluded with Joe Shimko from North Carolina University being named the 2023 Patrick Mannelly Award winner. We are also proud to recognize finalists Peter Bowden from the University of Wisconsin and Marco Ortiz from the University of Nebraska. Each of these athletes should be commended for their hard work and dedication both on and off the field.

The Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award shines a bright light on this unnoticed but essential position in football and provides rare recognition for the impactful role they play in today’s game.

Bernie’s Book Bank is proud to be the beneficiary of this prestigious award. Our mission to source, process and distribute quality children’s books to increase book ownership among children, with excellence and integrity, makes Bernie’s Book Bank the perfect teammate for the Long Snapper.

The inaugural Patrick Mannelly Award Dinner was December 14, 2019 at Bernie’s Book Bank. The 2020 Patrick Mannelly Award ceremony was streamed live on January 9, 2021 from Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff, IL. Missed it? Watch on YouTube The third annual Patrick Mannelly Award Ceremony was December 11, 2021 at Bernie’s Book Bank and on live-stream. Watch a recording of the ceremony on YouTube.

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2023 #65 Honor Roll:
Sohan Bendre, Walter Payton CP
Lissy Blume, Lake Forest HS
Sean Brown, Chicago Military Academy
Andy Bucaro, St. Francis HS
Jack Donovan, St. Francis HS
Katherine Malloy, Lake Forest HS
Jack McGeehan, St. Laurence HS
Tayla Moore, Perspectives Leadership Academy
Ben Owens, Stevenson HS
Sofia Sapp, Warren Township HS
Ryan Swanson, Antioch Community HS
CJ Valente, Batavia HS
DeAngelo Willis, Corliss HS
John Witowski, De La Salle Institute

2022 #65 Honor Roll:
Ryan Algrim, Kaneland High School
Sarah Ball, Willowbrook High School
Ethan Bode, Sycamore High School
Thomas Burton, Cary – Grove High School
Emily Cantor, Waukegan High School
Caden Casimino, Crystal Lake South High School
Danny French, St. Francis High School
Luke Granzow, Hobart High School
Walker Himebauch, Palmer Ridge High School
Caroline Keil, Lake Forest High School
Judah Mallette, Chicago Hope Academy
Connor Shields, St. Francis High School
Chelsea Tzau, Lake Forest High School

Charlie Aberle, Lake Forest High School
Gustavo Azevedo, Waubonsie Valley High School
Anthony Calderon, Kennedy High School
Chris Clarke, Lyons Township High School
Reilly Corken, Batavia High School
Reggie Davis, King High School
Thomas Dvorak, Fenwick High School