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| Sons of Italy News Bureau |
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| NEWS |
For Immediate Release |
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THE SONS OF ITALY HONORS
VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2009 -- "The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) presented its highest honor to U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden during its 21st annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) gala in Washington, D.C. on May 28. Biden is the first person not of Italian heritage to be so honored. |
The Sons of Italy Foundation's Philip Piccigallo greets Vice President Joe Biden at the Foundation's 21st annual gala dinner May 28 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Biden was the first non-Italian American to be honored by the Foundation. (photo: Max Taylor)
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The SIF is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. Since its founding in 1959, the SIF has donated more than $105 million to education, medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief and other special projects. SIF marked its golden anniversary at this year's dinner. Its highest honor, the "NELA" is given to men and women who have excelled in their field and made notable contributions to the United States.
In accepting his "NELA," Mr. Biden thanked the Sons of Italy for "one of the finest honors" of his career. He said the award is especially meaningful to him because it puts him in "the illustrious company of past NELA honorees," who include poet Dana Gioia, scientists Anthony Fauci and Robert Gallo, football legend Joe Paterno, entertainer Annette Funicello and the U.S. Supreme Court's Antonin Scalia.
"But on a more personal level, this award means so much to me because, although I am Irish, I grew up in an Italian neighborhood in Claymore, Delaware. All my friends were Italian Americans and when I first ran for public office; my constituents and supporters were, also. So I am proud to be 'in your neighborhood' that nurtured me and made me what I am." Accompanying Mr. Biden last night was his wife, Jill, whose maiden name, Jacobs, was changed from "Giacoppa" and is of Sicilian origin.
The other three honorees were NELA were Mary Ann Esposito, creator and host of Public Television's Ciao Italia; the Hon. Arthur J. Gajarsa, judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; and Robert A. Scardelletti, international president of the Transportation-Communications Union/International Association of Machinists.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was actor Joe Mantegna. Singers Giada Valenti and Michael Amante provided entertainment. For a third year the gala included a silent-to-live auction featuring trips to Italy, imported Italian specialty items and tickets to sports and entertainment events. The gala opened with a Celebrity Chef Expo Reception featuring hors d'oeuvres from eight leading restaurants in Washington and New York, including Galileo and Caf� Milano.
Among the 800 guests were prominent leaders from government, business, academia, sports and entertainment, including Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina, AIDS researcher Anthony Fauci, labor leader John Sweeney, former Congresswoman Connie Morella and "Criminal Minds" television star Thomas Gibson.
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Sons of Italy News Bureau Press Contact: Dona De Sanctis
219 E St., NE � Washington, DC 20002 (202) 547-2900
(202) 547-2900 � (202) 547-0121 - fax [email protected]
www.osia.org
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