Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
A standout high school lacrosse player in New Jersey, John Leone has earned national acclaim for his efforts to rally student-athletes on behalf of the community.
John Leone has accomplished a lot for a 17-year-old student-athlete. The 6-foot-4-inch New Jersey native’s stifling defensive stickwork helped lead his varsity high school lacrosse team to its first state title in 11 years. He is also a member of the varsity football team.
But it was his off-the-field accomplishments that earned him the prestigious national U.S. Congressional Award Bronze Medal earlier this year. One of the highest civilian honors for youth presented by Congress, the award recognizes exemplary initiative, service and achievement.
His journey to national acclaim began in 2023 when Leone and fellow Glen Ridge High School lacrosse player Kieran Leiber launched an organization called Athletes for Good.
“We wanted to get the teams together, to get people from other sports teams hanging out and volunteering,” Leone says. “We wanted to create volunteer opportunities for all student-athletes.”
The group has spearheaded multiple projects at nursing homes near their school in northeastern New Jersey that allow students to connect with residents by doing arts and crafts, playing bingo, decorating cookies and more. They’ve also hosted special events for holidays, like a Fourth of July activity during which fireworks were painted onto T-shirts. Leone earned the honor of dressing up as Santa at a “Christmas in July” activity this year.
“I think the most rewarding part is seeing people come together,” Leone says. “It’s building those connections with people at the nursing home.”
The group has also organized volunteer efforts on behalf of area residents who lack sufficient food and warm clothing.
Despite the demands of schoolwork and sports practices and matches, Leone has logged more than 100 hours volunteering with Athletes for Good so far. Should he log another 100 hours he will be eligible for the Congressional Award Silver Medal.
“I’m just continuing every week to do the work,” Leone says.
The Congressional Award isn’t the only recognition he’s earned from his extracurricular efforts. Each year, USA Lacrosse recognizes one male senior from each playing region who goes “above and beyond” in service to his team, school and community, bestowing the Bob Scott Award, named in honor of a legendary Team USA Lacrosse coach. Leone is the first Glen Ridge High student to win the award.
“I found out I won it at the end of the season ceremony for lacrosse,” Leone says. “It felt great.”
Naturally, his mother is very proud.
“You want your kid to be able to go into the community, find a problem and work to find a solution,” Carey Leone says. “He’s a big kid, but he isn’t a big gorilla, he leads by kindness.”
Leone’s Italian heritage comes by way of his father, John Angelo, whose father’s family traces its roots to Sicily and Tunisian, and whose mother’s side, the Turis, hail from northern Italy. Both sides immigrated to New York City, became restaurant workers and settled in Brooklyn and Queens.
A few years ago, Leone was entrusted with wearing his father’s Italian horn necklace, or cornicello, and has had it on for luck during every football and lacrosse game since.
“His mom gave it to him when he was a kid. You can still see his bite marks on it,” Leone says. “During one football game it fell off, but luckily I found it.”
Looking ahead, Leone has committed to playing lacrosse at Rollins College in Florida in the fall of 2026. But before that, he’ll be helping his Glen Ridge High teammates defend their state championship during his senior year.
Leone is also working to spread Athletes for Good to other schools. He helped create a handbook that offers student-athletes tips on how to set up their own chapter. The hope is that the second chapter will start up at a nearby high school during the 2025-26 school year.
The article above appears in the November 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.
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