RFH Student-Athlete Nominated for Football Award

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) senior Charlie Ingrassia is running toward a touchdown with an award for his overall student character, heart and dedication to football, on and off the field.

The 2026 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the New York Giants, has announced the group of nominees for week three of its award process and Ingrassia is one of them, a release from the organization said. All of the tri-state area nominees have been nominated by their coaches based on their commitment, teamwork, will, character, and dedication, the release added.

In Ingrassia’s case …

“Charlie Ingrassia (who plays offensive line at RFH) embodies the Heart of a Giant through his grit, resilience, and commitment to others. Living with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Charlie has faced challenges throughout his life but has never allowed them to define him. Football gave him a community where he could build friendships, challenge himself, and feel a strong sense of belonging. A four-year member of the football program, Charlie leads through his positive attitude, work ethic, and willingness to support his teammates.

“He helps younger players train, keeps teammates motivated, and strives to be someone others can depend on. Charlie’s impact extends beyond football through food drives, hunger-relief efforts, mental health advocacy, and helping incoming freshmen access football gear. He has also earned Honor Roll recognition while balancing academics, football, work, and volunteering. Charlie’s ability to turn adversity into motivation and use his experiences to inspire others makes him a true example of the Heart of a Giant.”
Released statement from Heart of a Giant

How you can help Ingrassia win …

The voting period is now open for week three nominees and will be live until Oct. 11. Voting link here: https://usafootball.com/heart-of-a-giant/vote

The nominee with the most votes will be named that week’s finalist. At the conclusion of the six-week process, there will be a total of 11 honorees (six weekly finalists and five honorable mentions) recognized for their work ethic and character. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 equipment grant for their high school football program, with the grand prize winner earning an additional $9,000 grant for their school and being honored on the field at a future Giants game this season. Selection of the grand prize winner will be based on video submissions explaining why they have the Heart of a Giant.

For more information on the program: click here.

USA Football, Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants are partnering to present the Heart of a Giant award for a 13th consecutive year. In that time, this award program has since expanded to highlight not only high school tackle football players, but all tri-state high school flag football athletes, student managers or student mascots who demonstrate a relentless work ethic and unmatched love for the game.

Other nominees are: Omar Areche: WR/DB — Yonkers High School (Yonkers, NY); Jason Bocio: Athlete — Hackensack High School (Hackensack, NJ); Jack DeVito: Team Manager — Dumont High School (Dumont, NJ); Dominick Esposito: Kicker — Hackettstown High School (Hackettstown, NJ); Tommy Henehan: Lineman — Butler High School (Butler, NJ); Parker McManus: Wide Receiver/Cornerback — Cooperstown Central School (Cooperstown, NY); Armita Mojazza: Wide Receiver — Woodlands High School (Hartsdale, NY); Nicolas Salvati: Linebacker — North Branford High School (North Branford, CT); Kamdyn Scovil: Wide Receiver/Free Safety — Saranac Lake High School (Saranac Lake, NY).