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Officers, board members and lifetime drectors of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation with the scholarship recipients and their families. (Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Each spring The Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation awards annual scholarships to exceptional young adults and inducts new members into the organization during a formal dinner reception.
This year’s event was staged at LiGreci’s Staaten where two exceptional high school seniors, Sophia Teutonico, a student at St. Joseph Hill Academy, and Charles Sciarrino, a student at Staten Island Academy, were lauded for their exemplary academic achievements and outstanding school and community service.
Each student received scholarship funding in the amount of $7,500.
Scholarship winner Sophia Teutonico, second from right, and club president Charles Parisi, right, with Sophia's parents. (Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
Teutonico will be attending Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College and Sciarrino will attend Georgia Tech in September.
From the left, Italian Club president Charles Parisi with scholarship recipient Charles Sciarrino and his parents, Charlotte and Marcello Sciarrino. (Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
The master of ceremonies for the event was Italian Club president Charles Parisi.
“The scholarship committee reviewed over two dozen applications,” he noted. “And after careful consideration, the awards went to tonight’s winners. The Italian Club has been awarding scholarships to college bound seniors since 1983.”
To date, the club has awarded $175,000 to qualifying young adults.
Congratulations are also in order for two new members who were inducted into The Italian Club that evening: Joseph Ferdico, sponsored by Joseph Zichittella, and Vincent Laurino, sponsored by Anthony Maniscalco.
From the left, Anthony Maniscalco, new inductee Vincent Laurino, treasurer Mark Giacalone, president Charles Parisi, Vice President Dominick DiRubbio,secretary Joseph Zichittella, new inductee Joseph Ferdico and Lifetime Director Daniel Macri. (Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
Music at the event was provided by Partners in Sound.
THE CLUB’S CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS
The Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation sponsors a food drive between Thanksgiving and Christmas that brings baskets of food to hundreds of needy families across Staten Island.
Members raise the funds, shop for food so that every recipient receives a similar basket, and deliver the food directly to recipients.
In addition to the Scholarship Award Program and food drive, the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation expanded civic donations to include the American Red Cross, Hospice of Greater New York, Firemen’s Widow Fund, Staten Island Have a Heart Foundation, the New York City Burn Center, Cystic Fibrosis, the Eger Foundation, Cooley’s Anemia, the Aurora Group, Staten Island Leukemia Association, American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association.
From the left, Joseph Zichittella, Maniscalco, Carmine Manna, Michael Anicito, Dr. John Piazza and Charles Parisi. (Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
The club has sponsored youth, educational and cultural programs, which have included communion breakfasts, high school mentoring programs, and the recognition of excellence in Italian language study.
They also have been committed to the Aurora program that teaches Italian culture and Italian language to children in grammar school.
THE ORIGINS OF THE ITALIAN CLUB OF STATEN ISLAND FOUNDATION
In 1950 eight prominent Italian-American businessmen decided to organize a club in order to exchange information and ideas in order to promote “a better understanding among leading Italian-Americans in the business and professional field and to raise awareness about Italian culture.”
The men sought not only to raise awareness and promote Italian culture, but to raise funds for charitable, philanthropic and educational organizations.
(Courtesy/Steve White)Staten Island Advance
In its mission to join together business and professional men of Italian descent, unite them in the close bond of friendship and good fellowship and provide assistance, they developed a high standard of commitment to community.
From its earliest days, the club has been committed to the youth of Staten Island, a commitment that’s made the Club Scholarship Award Program a constant throughout the years.
From the original eight, membership has expanded to more than 150 members and throughout the years over 1,000 accomplished individuals have graced the membership roster.
CELEBRATIONS – MAY 5 to MAY 11
MAY 5
Happy birthday Sunday to Martha Morrongiello, who turns 96, Lynn Turrisi, Eddie Brennan, Robert Pratnicki, Thomas McKernan, Janine Fanuzzi and Lenore Knudsen.
MAY 6
Monday is birthday time for Robert Rispoli Jr., Dr. Ron Scheff, Connie Cerrachio, Jack Boyle who turns 15, Christopher Hepworth and Joseph O’Rourke.
Happy 40th anniversary Monday to Marianna and Caesar Ciardiello and to Debbie and Thomas Stavola.
MAY 7
The best of birthdays Tuesday to Grace McAuliffe, Dr. Frank Carpiniello, Robyn Ruehl-Lippert, Joanne Mortimer O’Connor, Kathy Ferrulli, and twins Gina and Christine LaMazza.
Happy wedding anniversary Tuesday to Denise and John Bahil and to Rosemary and Robert McCormick.
MAY 8
Birthday greetings Wednesday to Stephanie Nemeth, Kevin Donorio, Tom Mannino, Dylan Campbell, Michael Pero, John Rosati, Melissa Eisler, Jamie McDermott and Edward Quinn.
MAY 9
Birthday time again on Thursday to Luke Eric Magierski, Helen Pedersen, Dottie Raffo, Michael Kline and John Michael DeRenzo. Happy anniversary to Kathy and Frank Mannino.
MAY 10
Heading the birthday list on Friday is Dr. Howard Fox, a Dongan Hills podiatrist who’s also a brilliant composer of classical and pop music, Nicole Cataldo, Maryann Geissler,who turns 68, Jack McGinley, Jaidan Betancourt, Alfred Pettiford and twins, Larry and Danny Miraglia.
Happy wedding anniversary to Camille and Alphonse Giordano, to Chris and Christy Di Gregorio, Ron and Ada Tramontano and to Maria and Jim Hogan.
MAY 11
Happy birthday on Saturday to Timothy James Golterman, Tom Woods, Rita “Nana” Wright and to Bill Marco who turns 32.
Saturday is wedding anniversary time for Kathy and Peter Cennamo.
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