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Dear friend,
The Guglielmo Marconi Award, the Order Sons of Italy in America's (OSIA) highest honor, is named for the Nobel prize-winning Italian physicist who invented wireless telegraphy. It is presented biennially to an Italian American who has made significant contributions to the United States. This year's honoree is Frank De Santis, a pillar in the Italian American community. He will be recognized at the Marconi Gala during the Sons of Italy's 52nd Biennial National Convention in Orlando, Fla.
Frank is a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, businessman, philanthropist, Californian and Sons of Italy leader. A member for nearly 40 years, Frank rose to the position of OSIA National President in 1997. His dedication to his Italian heritage and to helping others is unparalleled, and he finds the perfect way to combine the two. Among his numerous achievements, Frank co-founded the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation; with the OSIA Grand Lodge of California he helped establish Birth Defects Libraries at two California medical centers and U.C. Irvine; he chaired the committee to establish the Italian Chair at California State University Long Beach, his leadership ultimately leading to am endowed chair and the saving of the Italian program. His efforts are recognized far beyond the California and Italian American communities - the Italian government has awarded Frank both the Order of Merit of Cavalieri and the Order of Merit of Commendatore.
The Sons of Italy Biennial National Convention is an opportunity to celebrate our award honorees, as well as the history and legacy of OSIA, not the least of which is its charitable work. OSIA chapters along with OSIA's philanthropic arm, The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF), award nearly $800,000 every year to Italian American college-bound students, sending them to America's top schools including Harvard, Princeton, Standford, and Yale. The SIF also funds cultural programs, medical research and disaster relief - more than $117 million to date. Proceeds from the Marconi Gala go to support these OSIA and SIF programs.
We invite you to support these programs and pay tribute to Frank De Santis, Sellaro Award recipients Linda Abronzino and Sam Fumosa, and Sports Award recipient Dick Vitale by placing an advertisement in the Biennial National Convention commemorative journal or attending the Marconi Gala.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Frank Panessa
OSIA National Financial Secretary & Marconi Gala Chairman
Joseph J. DiTrapani
OSIA National President
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