The Local Picture: But Mark's contributions to the game of lacrosse don't just revolve around take-away checks and fast breaks. He served as the president of the Hawaii Lacrosse Club from 1999 to 2001, and helped co-found the Hawaii women's team. Over the past five years, he has worked tirelessly as a director, coordinator and fundraiser for the Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational. Under his efforts, the hot Hawaii tournament has grown from a 7-team men's only event to a 31-team competition featuring highly-competitive Men's Elite, Women's Elite and Men's Master's Divisions. Mark has also worked hard to get youth lacrosse started in Hawaii, providing funding and equipment through Hawaii Lacrosse Club donations as well as his own direct cash support - Tarone donated $3,000 to Hawaii youth lacrosse in 2002, raised through his own business efforts.

The Bigger Picture: Tarone has also continued to foster the international exchange of our favorite sport. Since his involvement in the coordination of the Hawaii Lacrosse Invitational in 1999, international participation in the event has grown to include Hong Kong, Korean and Australian participants (in addition to Japanese and Canadian stalwarts). He also helped introduce lacrosse to Tonga by organizing a Hawaii exhibition game for the King of Tonga in July of 2000. The Hawaii Lacrosse Club is thrilled to present the 2003 Don Gladstone Award to Mark Tarone in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the game of lacrosse !