Following two years of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Little League® Awards Program returned for the 2022 season with an updated, modernized structure to honor its dedicated volunteers.
Under the new structure, the previous individual volunteer recognition awards (including Volunteer, Softball Volunteer, Howard and Gail Paster Urban Initiative Volunteer, Challenger Division Volunteer, Good Sport Award, and Mom of the Year) are now honored under a larger “Community Heroes of the Year” recognition that ties to the recently launched Little League Community Heroes Program.
Starting in 2022, volunteers who are nominated for the Community Heroes program throughout the year will also become eligible to be recognized as Community Heroes of the Year at the Little League World Series, with a varying number of individuals earning the honor each year. Under this new structure, recipients of the Community Heroes of the Year award will also be presented with a $1,000 grant to their local league/district as thank you for their dedicated efforts. Since 2024, the Little League Community Heroes program, including the annual Little League Community Heroes of the Year, is presented by New York Life.