Frank Kolarek
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Founder of the League of DreamsFrank Kolarek, founder of the League of Dreams, has an extensive sports background as a professional player and coach with the Oakland Athletics and scout with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles. After 15 years in professional baseball Frank returned to his alma mater, the University of Maryland to coach and teach.
Frank has served as the Director of Baseball and Softball for Special Olympics International with programs in 152 countries as well as Vice President of the Navy Run, Jump and Throw program which impacted over 2 million children in four years nationwide. He continues to be regarded as one of the country’s top clinicians in baseball and softball presenting to schools, training centers, camps, and youth groups.
In 2003 he founded the League of Dreams with the goal of seeing everyone, regardless of limitation or disability, has a chance to be a ‘player’ in the great sports of baseball and softball. Stating with 17 players in year one the League of Dreams has served over 29,000 players and impacted over 31,000 volunteers. He now serves as Executive Director of League of Dreams.
In 2009 Major League Baseball and People Magazine selected and recognized Frank at the Major League Baseball All Star game in St. Louis as one of 30 people from around the country designated as an “All Star Among Us” for his League of Dreams Foundation and community impact.
A graduate of Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Frank was an outstanding catcher and coach for the CCBC Catonsville baseball team. He is an inaugural CCBC Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015 inductee.
Frank lives in Catonsville, Maryland with his wife Dorothy of 33 years and they enjoy spending time with their 5 grandchildren, 3 married daughters and son Adam who was a pitcher for the 2020 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and currently with the Oakland Athletics.
The Kolareks are proud active members of Saint Mark’s Parish in Catonsville.
