Glen Head Kid Overcomes Dad's Death, Nominated For 'Giant' Award

GLEN HEAD, NY — It's one thing to have talent, but it's another to have character along with it.

It's that combination that propelled Max Marra, a North Shore High School student-athlete, to be nominated for USA Football's Heart of a Giant Award, making him just one of 10 to be nominated in the Tri-State area.

The criteria of the award, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and NY Giants, is commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication. Students are nominated by their coaches.

Early in life, Marra faced adversity with the death of his father, who tragically died in his mother arms as Marra and his brother watched in horror. But in the years after, Marra and his brother continued playing football in the backyard, just with each other. They played before dinner. They played after dinner. Really, they played catch any chance they got.

"As I got older, my adversity gave me this incredible motivation," Marra said in a news release.

He became a stronger athlete — and an even stronger student.

Daniel Agovino, Marra's head coach, explained that he's not only a member of the football and basketball team, Marra is senior class vice president, an honor roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, and has received the American Citizenship Award for his community service.

"I poured my heart and soul into football and school and I never used my father's death as a crutch; I decided to turn my adversity into opportunity," said Marra.

Marra was part of the third week of nominees. Voting for these nominees will be open for 25 days with final vote tally determining who will be named the group's finalist. One grand prize winner will be selected based on video submissions stating why they have the Heart of a Giant and will be honored on the field during a New York Giants home game.

Click here to cast your vote and see Marra's submission.

All six finalists and four honorable mention finalists will receive $1,000 for their high school's football program, with the winner's school getting an additional $9,000.