Make a Donation to Joey Hollywood

NEWARK, NJ--Eleven-year old Joey Hollywood, became an honorary Highlander on Wednesday, April 24, as the NJIT baseball team helped raise Fibrodisplaysia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Awareness.

One of the rarest, most disabling genetic conditions, FOP causes bones to form in muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues. Bridges of extra bone develop across joints, progressively restricting movement and forming a second skeleton that imprisons the body in bone.

Hollywood, who was diagnosed with FOP when he was four years old, attended the NJIT baseball game at Monmouth University on Wednesday, joining NJIT players and coaching staff during batting practice.

"We are super excited that honorary Highlander Joey Hollywood joined our team for BP today and taught us about FOP," interim head coach Robbie McClellan commented.  "The team had a great time with Joey and as Highlanders, we would love to help Joey spread awareness on FOP."

Joey has been an inspiration to his family and now to the NJIT Baseball team as the Highlanders welcomed Joey with open arms and are encouraged by his story.

"It was an honor to meet Joey," NJIT sophomore co-captain Paul Franzoni added.  "All of the guys were really inspired by his energy and impressed by his deep knowledge of baseball.  It was really awesome to have him in the dugout and I really hope to see him in there again soon."