People

Italy Nominates Mariangela Zappia as the next Italian Ambassador to Washington
The Italian Government has nominated Mariangela Zappia as the next Italian Ambassador to Washington. She would be the first woman to ever hold the position. The current Ambassador, Armando Varricchio, will be heading to Berlin, a key post for Italian diplomacy, as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel will not seek a fifth term. Zappia joined the […]

Mary Sansone, a Grass-Roots Political Godmother, Dies at 101
A Mary Sansone, a gutsy Brooklyn social worker who created a robust community service organization that bridged racial and ethnic barriers, defied the Mafia and befriended supportive politicians, died on Monday in Brooklyn. She was 101. Source: Mary Sansone, a Grass-Roots Political Godmother, Dies at 101

Frank Stella on Six Decades of Experimentation and Change
The New York–based Stella, now 81, burst onto the scene barely out of college with his “Black Paintings,” sober geometric studies composed of wide black stripes separated by chalky white lines. These won him inclusion in “16 Americans,” the famed 1959–60 group show at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. He stayed in the […]

San Francisco Replaces Columbus Day With Indigenous Peoples’ Day
“To take our day away is an insult to our culture,” said Guido Perego, president of the Italian Athletic Club in the city’s traditionally Italian-American North Beach neighborhood. “The city is basically pitting one culture against another.”The board voted 10-1 to make the change on Tuesday.San Francisco is not alone. Four states and 55 other […]

‘Bribezoni’ is an attack on Italian-Americans, not Cuomo, says Castorina | SILive.com
Assemblyman Ron Castorina said GOP leaders have attacked Italian-Americans in an attempt to bad mouth Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former aide Joseph Percoco outside the Manhattan Federal Courthouse Monday, where jury selection was underway for Percoco’s trial……. Castorina (R-South Shore/Staten Island) said the imagery fails to attack the “alleged pay-to-play culture” and points the finger […]

Gianni Versace ‘American Crime Story’ looks closely at his killer
Gianni Versace and Andrew Cunanan were both smart, talented, engaging and popular. Versace grew up to become the most influential fashion designer of his generation. Cunanan grew up to kill Versace. Source: Gianni Versace ‘American Crime Story’ looks closely at his killer – NY Daily News

Mark Mazzetti del New York Times è il vincitore dell’Urbino Press Award 2016
Il giornalista del New York Times Mark Mazzetti è il vincitore, per il 2016, dell’Urbino Press Award, il premio italiano che ogni anno viene assegnato a un reporter o editorialista americano. L’annuncio ufficiale della vittoria verrà dato il 17 maggio dall’Ambasciatore d’Italia negli Stati Uniti Armando Varricchio nel corso di una cerimonia presso l’Ambasciata d’Italia […]

Joseph Sciame to Receive the Sons Of Italy 2015 Guglielmo Marconi Award
Congratulations to Joseph Sciame, a great Italian American who has been selected by the Sons of Italy to receive the 2015 Guglielmo Marconi Award. Sciame is currently the Vice President for Community Relations at St. John’s University, the Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, and a Trustee of the Sons […]

Lido Civic Club of Washington DC to Host Annual Past Presidents Night, November 22, 2014
The Lido Civic Club of Washington, DC will honor their Woman and Man of the Year for 2015. They are Gracia Martore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gannett Co., Inc. and Joseph A. Martore, President & Chief Executive Officer of CALIBRE Systems Inc. The Lido Civic Club will also honor Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General […]

NIAF Hosts Second Annual Congressional Bocce Ball Bash
On May 29, 2014, the National Italian American Foundation hosted its 2nd Annual Congressional Bocce Ball Bash on the rooftop of the Offices of Venable LLP, in Washington, DC. We watched U.S. Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Pat Tiberi, pitted against Italian Chamber of Deputies Representative Fucsia Nissoli, and NIAF’s President John Viola. Among the guest players Italian Ambassador […]