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Philadelphia, PA – Villanova University Football head coach Andy Talley, who has been responsible for over 20,000 people registering for the National Marrow Donor Program over the past 20 years, is the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Humanitarian of the Year, it was announced by PSWA president Rich Westcott.

Talley will be honored at the PSWA’s 108th annual Sports Awards Dinner on Monday, January 30, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, NJ.

The winningest football coach in Villanova history, and coach of the 2009 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision National Championship, Talley dedicates most of his time away from the gridiron to the National Bone Marrow Foundation. With this group, he works to have potential bone marrow donors entered in a national bone marrow registry, increasing the odds of a needy patient being able to find a "match" for their bone marrow. Since November 1, 1993, he has been responsible for over 20,500 people being tested with the National Marrow Donor Program. In 2008, Talley started the "Get in the Game and Save a Life" national bone marrow registration campaign. Talley enlisted 30 college football programs from all levels to take part in this campaign. Since 2008, this group has combined to test nearly 25,000 potential donors. Through this initiative, donors have been found around the country, including several from Villanova University and other colleges in the Philadelphia area, including Rowan University, University of Pennsylvania, and West Chester University.

Recent Humanitarian of the Year honorees include Philadelphia Phillies outfield Shane Victorino (2011), Adam Taliaferro (2009), Jon Runyan (2008), Eagles Youth Partnership (2007) and Alex’s Lemonade Stand (2006).

The Philadelphia Phillies have already been named the Team of the Year, while Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux has been named the Pro Athlete of the Year.  Other  prestigious awards at the dinner, including Outstanding Amateur Athlete (Villanova runner Sheila Reid), Living Legend, Native Son, and Good Guy Athlete (Phillies outfield Hunter Pence), among others, will be announced in coming weeks, as will a couple of memorable surprise presentations and some “Special Achievement” awards. The most coveted award — Most Courageous — is kept secret until the night of the dinner.

Comedian Joe Conklin will also perform at the dinner, the oldest continuing sports awards banquet in the nation.

Tickets for the dinner at $95 apiece are available online at http://www.PSWA.org, or by sending a check payable to PSWA, c/o Robbie Kenney, Ticket Chairman, 110 Harrogate Drive., Lumberton, NJ 08048. Fans can also friend PSWA on Facebook. Doors to the banquet open at 5 p.m. with the dinner and program starting promptly at 6:30 p.m.