Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year Award
Your experience with liver disease could be the beginning of something that helps someone else. The Rookie program helps emerging patient and caregiver advocates turn that experience into education, support and action.
Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year Award
Your experience with liver disease could be the beginning of something that helps someone else. The Rookie program helps emerging patient and caregiver advocates turn that experience into education, support and action.
Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year Award
Your experience with liver disease could be the beginning of something that helps someone else. The Rookie program helps emerging patient and caregiver advocates turn that experience into education, support and action.
Build It and They Will Come
Tony Villiotti believed that when patients needed something, you found a way to build it. After his liver transplant, he helped build Liver Education Advocates so others could find the information and support he wished he’d had during his MASH, cirrhosis, liver cancer and transplant journey.
Rookie of the Year was one of his final program ideas: give another patient or caregiver the opportunity to turn their experience into something that helps others.
THE ROOKIE AWARD
Up to $10,000 to launch or grow an idea that helps others
“Have you turned your experience with liver disease into something that helps others, or do you have an idea you’re ready to bring to life?”
The Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year program supports emerging patient and caregiver advocates, with a particular emphasis on MASLD, MASH and MetALD. Voices from across the liver disease community are welcome.
Who is a Rookie?
Rookie: Someone at the beginning of a new role, pursuit, or journey.
“Rookie” describes where you are in your advocacy journey. You don’t need a large following, a formal advocacy role or an established program.
We are looking for a patient or caregiver who has started helping others or is ready to take that first step.
This opportunity is for individuals. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
The Starting Lineup
Selected finalists will join our inaugural Starting Lineup, with opportunities to share their stories and connect with fellow advocates.
One individual from the Starting Lineup will be named the Tony Villiotti 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.
The award funds the recipient’s proposed initiative and must be used to carry out that work
What Could Your Idea Look Like?
These examples are just a starting point. We welcome your own ideas, whether you’re ready to launch something new or need funding to grow an effort you’ve recently started to help other patients and caregivers.
Support & Connection
Start or expand a support group, mentoring effort or patient community.
Helpful Resources
Create materials that help patients and caregivers understand liver disease and navigate care.
Community Events
Organize a community workshop, health education event or liver screening event with qualified healthcare partners.
Storytelling
Develop a video series, podcast or other project that shares experiences to educate and encourage others.
How to Apply
Your experience could be the beginning of something meaningful for someone else.
Applications open in spring 2027. Whether you’ve already started helping others or have an idea you’re ready to pursue, we’d love to hear from you.
We’ll share full eligibility requirements, application instructions and deadlines when applications open. Sign up now so you’ll know when it’s time to apply.
2027 Timeline
Spring: Applications Open
Tell us about your experience and the idea or program you want to launch or grow.
Summer: Starting Lineup Announced
Meet the patient and caregiver advocates selected for our inaugural Starting Lineup.
Fall: Rookie of the Year Announced
Meet the inaugural Tony Villiotti Rookie of the Year. Details about a celebration honoring the Rookie and Starting Lineup will follow.
Join the Team. Advance the Legacy.
Help Build the Next Starting Lineup
Help carry Tony Villiotti’s vision forward by supporting the next Starting Lineup of patient and caregiver advocates. Make a gift or rally your family, friends and coworkers to fundraise. Together, we can help emerging advocates share their stories and turn their ideas into meaningful support for others.
Rally Your Team
Bring your family, friends or coworkers together in honor of a patient or caregiver, in memory of someone you love or in celebration of your own journey. Create a team on Givebutter and invite others to help advance the legacy.
Step Up to the Plate
Your gift helps emerging patient and caregiver advocates share their stories and bring their ideas to life. Give in honor of someone special or simply because you believe in patients helping patients.
Build the Future of Patient Advocacy
Your organization can help create lasting opportunities for patients and caregivers to share their experiences, connect with one another and grow as advocates. Inspired by Tony Villiotti’s legacy, founding partnerships support the storytelling, resources and program foundation that help each Starting Lineup reach more people and strengthen the liver advocacy community.
What Your Partnership Helps Build
Amplify
Help patients and caregivers share their stories, raise awareness and inspire others.
Connect
Bring advocates and partners together to build meaningful, lasting relationships.
Equip
Provide practical tools, resources and opportunities that help emerging advocates put their ideas into action.
Elevate
Create recognition and support that help advocates continue their work and reach more people.
Become a Founding Partner
Help build a program designed to grow beyond its inaugural year. Founding partners support the storytelling, connections and opportunities that strengthen each Starting Lineup and the broader patient advocacy community. Multiple organizations are welcome at every partnership level.
- Grand Slam
Founding Legacy Partner
- Home Run
Presenting Partner
- Triple
Impact Partner
- Double
Community Partner
- Single
Supporting Partner
Interested in carrying Tony’s vision forward? Tell us about your organization, and we’ll connect with you to discuss partnership opportunities and benefits.
FROM PATIENT TO ADVOCATE
Tony’s Journey
Tony Villiotti was a husband, father, grandfather and lifelong baseball fan. He also became a liver patient—a role that changed his life and ultimately inspired him to help change the experience for others. The Rookie of the Year program honors both his journey and his belief that someone with lived experience and an idea can make a difference.
PATIENT
Tony knew the fear and uncertainty that can come with liver disease. His journey through MASLD, MASH, cirrhosis and liver cancer showed him how much patients and families need understandable information, timely answers and someone who understands what they’re facing. Those experiences stayed with him long after his transplant.
TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT
On March 18, 2018, Tony received a lifesaving liver transplant. That second chance gave him more time with the people he loved – and a new purpose. He wanted other families to have access to the education and support that could have made a difference earlier in his own journey.
ADVOCATE
Tony turned his experience into conversations that helped others. At community events, education tables and patient gatherings, he shared his story, listened to people’s concerns and made liver health easier to talk about. He understood that a personal conversation could help someone ask a question, seek more information or feel less alone.
FOUNDER
In 2018, Tony and his wife, Betsy, founded NASH kNOWledge, now Liver Education Advocates. What began with their family’s experience grew into an organization connecting people with liver health education, resources and support. Tony brought his ideas and determination; patients and families remained at the center of the work.
PATIENT VOICE
Whether speaking with a community member or sharing his perspective with healthcare leaders, Tony brought the patient experience into the conversation. Before his passing in 2026, he helped develop the Rookie of the Year program to encourage another patient or caregiver to take that next step. Today, the program carries his vision forward by helping emerging advocates share their stories and build something meaningful for others.
