National Football Foundation

In 1995, long-time member of the National Football Foundation's Essex County (NJ) Chapter, Matt Sellitto recognized the need for and established a new chapter in neighboring Morris County. Under his dynamic leadership and with the help of a very active and dedicated board of directors, the chapter has experienced enormous success.
 
In just 10 years, the chapter has risen to become a hallmark of the community, recognizing hundreds of the area's best and brightest scholar-athletes with recognition awards and scholarships. The chapter's highly successful Sports Nut Night draws a crowd of over 200 every year to listen to some of the area's well-known sports celebrities and culminates with the always-difficult sports trivia contest. The event generates the necessary revenue to award thousands of dollars annually in scholarships.
 
A 1970 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Sellitto received his MBA from Montclair State University in 1975. He taught business law and marketing classes at Milburn High School from 1971 to 2001 and was a member of the school's football coaching staff from 1971 to 1977. He was named head coach in his final two seasons, before joining the coaching staff at Seton Hall University, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1978 to 1980.
 
An entrepreneur, Sellitto created a development business in 1982 and still presides over that company today. Strongly committed to his community, he is the past president of the Harding Township Civic Association and is currently the vice-president of the Harding Township Educational Foundation and Harding Township Recreation Association. Additional civic-minded activities include current membership on the Harding Township Juvenile Conference Committee and past membership on the Harding Public Land Advisory Committee.
 
A respected community leader, Sellitto found time to coach Little League Baseball for seven years and helped create the Matthew C. Sellitto Foundation in memory of his eldest son Matthew, who at age 23 was lost on the 105th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2001.
 
Rather than wallow in his loss, Matt channeled his energy and strength of character into a determination to fight terrorism. As part of the Family Steering Committee for the 9-11 Independent Commission, he traveled repeatedly to Washington to insist Congress create legislation for an independent investigation and currently is lobbying for immediate implementation of the Commission's 41 recommendations. As a lead family for the 9-11Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism, Matt is working to freeze the money of those who have funneled cash into terrorist's organizations. The Matthew C. Sellitto Foundation awards scholarships annually to deserving young people based on financial need, academic excellence, school participation and community service.
 
Matt lives in Harding Township with his wife, Loreen, and their son, Jonathan.