“It's an incredible honor and privilege to be up here representing the Dolan family for this award," Paul Dolan said on Wednesday night at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Grand Ballroom in Downtown Cleveland.
Larry Dolan purchased the Indians in 2000. They’ve won 90 or more games nine times over that span and have had 13 winning seasons. The Dolans are the longest tenured ownership group in Indians' history.
The Dolan family is heavily involved in the community. Larry is a former President of the Christopher Foundation, Executive Board Member of the Geauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board Member of the Cleveland Foundation and founder and former president of the Geauga County Public Library Foundation.
"My father (Larry Dolan) would get up and say 'whatever we do with the team doesn't matter if we don't positively impact the lives of the most needy in our community," Dolan said. "When it turned out we got the Indians, that attitude that he brought was very prominent and it really kind of shaped the culture of the Indians."
Paul has done plenty of charitable work as well, which includes involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland. He’s also served as the Chairman of the United Way of Greater Cleveland since 2018.
The award is given to a person, or in this case, a family — who has dedicated their lives to the advancement of sports in Cleveland.
Dolan closed by referencing the 2020 Indians and four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor.
“I’m very very excited about this years’ season. We have a good crop of young players. We saw them start to develop last year. And of course we have some old stars," Dolan said with a smile. "One of whom happens to play shortstop — who I know I’m going to enjoy. I’m not sure I can tell you people to enjoy him, but he is certainly fun to watch and I’m looking forward to some October baseball.”
The Indians' regular season starts on March 26 against the Tigers at Progressive Field.