News You Can Use

Save The Date

In Honor of our Chair and Founder

Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D.

to celebrate her contributions of 32 years in the Italian American community, her retirement and status as

Founder and Chair Emerita

Saturday, May 5, 2012

11:00am - 3:00pm

The Metropolitan Club

Invitation to Follow

Please click here for a recent article on Dr. Sirey's retirement and service to the Italian American community.

Attention College Women

Applications Now Being Accepted! 

It is an important mission of the National Organization of Italian American Women to help with the educational advancement of Italian American Women. Since its inception in 1980, NOIAW has proudly awarded more than 140 scholarships to deserving Italian American students.


Deadline: March 1

NOIAW is collaborating with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) on an annual exchange program, which is going into it's sixth year.  In early June 2012, Italian American college women will again travel to Italy as the guests of MAE. The Exchange program is an educational, enlightening and cultural experience.


Deadline: March 15 

2012 Epiphany Celebrations

The Greater New York Region of NOIAW celebrated their Epiphany on Friday, January 6th at the lovely Columbus Citizen's Foundation.   The honorees included Roseann Bifulco McSorley, Head of Business Resiliency, JP Morgan Chase; Maria Mediago, Vice President, Facilities Management, the Valley Hospital; and Diane J. Savino, NY State Senator, 23rd District.

 

It was our pleasure to have with us Natalia Quintavalle, Consul General of Italy for New York. The Consul General introduced the honorees and spoke of their impressive accomplishments. The Wise Women impressed us with their success stories. They seemed to share the same core values of devotion to family and hard work, stemming from their Italian background and traditions.

 

The event was filled with family, friends, and colleagues of our honorees, who outwardly expressed their happiness in sharing such a special evening with Roseann, Maria, and Diane. Kathleen Guglielmo, President of the Greater New York Region of NOIAW, sends her sincere thanks to all who made it such an enjoyable evening.

 

Kathleen Guglielmo, Maria Mediago, Consul General Natalia Quintavalle, Roseann Bifulco McSorley, Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey

Click here to see more pictures! 

The DC Region of NOIAW celebrated its Epiphany event honoring Three Wise Women on January 11 at Maggiano's Little Italy. Honorees were ANita Bevacqua McBride, former Chief of Starr for First Lady Laura Bush and currently executive in residence at American University; Dena C. Feeney, Esq., a partner in the law firm of Feeney and Kuramura and Domenica Marchetti, a cookbook author. Mistress of Ceremony was former Maryland Congresswoman, Constance Morella, a 2010 honoree.

Constance Morella, Anita Bevacqua McBride, Dena Feeney, and Domenica Marchetti

More than 70 guests attended to honor the Three Wise Women at a wonderful reception and buffet of Italian food. A silent auction brought in nearly two thousand dollars with many special items which included a wine tasting for ten donated by Bella Italia in Bethesda,  a beautiful Italian designed necklace from National Geographic and a number of Italian restaurants. Domenica Marchetti donated her cookbooks which she personalized for the guests who purchased them.
  

On Jan 22nd, the CT Region celebrated it's third annual 3 Wise Women celebration, honoring Patricia Consiglio Perrotti, restaurateur; Ann DeMatteo, journalist; and Nancy J. DiNardo, educator and state Democratic party chairwoman. Over 120 guests turned out on a Sunday morning to honor these three lovely women. In the audience were more than half of CT elected officials to Washington, D.C. including Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Congressmen Jim Himes, Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, who presented the awards to the honorees. Also attending were Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Comptroller of the State, Kevin Lembo. Last year's honorees Claire Criscuolo, Sister Mary Jane Paolella, ASCJ, and Patricia Russo also joined the event held at the New Haven Lawn Club. Several thousand dollars were raised for the scholarship and cultural exchange programs. Each year, this event gets better and better. See you at next year's event.

Betty Santangelo, Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Nancy J. DiNardo, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Ann DeMatteo, Jo-Ann Daddio-Larsen, Patricia Consiglio Perrotti

Over 150 guests gathered on Wednesday, January 25th at the Providence Biltmore Garden Room as the Rhode Island Region held its first annual Epiphany celebration to honor Four Wise Women. The honorees for this inaugural event included Dr. Silvia Degli-Esposti, Center for Women's Gastrointestinal Medicine, Women's Medicine Collarborative; the Honorable Jeanne E. LaFazia, Chief Judge of the Rhode Island District Court; Lois Scialo Ellis and Carol Scialo Gaeta, co-owners of Scialo Bros. Bakery.



Anne Marie D'Attelo, President of the Rhode Island Region, welcomed friends and families of the honorees, including special guest, Frank Caprio, benefactor for this event; as well as Claire Giannamore, President of the Italian American Historical Society of Rhode Island. The honorees were presented by Giuseppe Pastorelli, Consul General of the Italian Consulate in Boston.  Although from diverse backgrounds, the stories shared by each honoree reflected a common theme. Each spoke about the Italian traditions that created a strong sense of community, the values of hard work and dedication instilled by their parents and grandparents, and the love of strong families from which they derived support, encouragement and inspiration.

Region Events

The Greater New York Region    

 

      
 

The Long Island Network

  
Pleased to present
Financial Planning for Women

Thursday, March 15, 2012
Hempstead, NY

The Connecticut Region    

 

 

The Greater New York Region    

 

 

The Staten Island Network

 

 
Staten Island

Region News

 

The Long Island Network hosted its first family event, A Family Celebration of Carnevale, on Sunday, February 12 at the beautiful Swan Club in Roslyn Harbor. Over 95 adults and children attended the festivities, which included luncheon, DJ, dancing, and prizes.
 
During the adult-only cocktail hour, children ages 4-12 participated in "Festeggiamo il Carnevale", a program hosted by Camp Italia, providers of unique and educational children's Italian programs and summer camps. The founders and directors of Camp Italia, Maria Arianas and Donna Fontanetta, are NOIAW members.

     

Future NOIAW Members during the Sfilata

Children learned about the origin of Carnevale, the link to the theatre and the wearing of masks, and how Carnevale is celebrated in Venice today.  They played tombola while hearing and repeating many Italian words, and took pleasure in hearing and saying their own name in Italian. The program was topped off with a Sfilata del Carnevale (Carnevale Parade) starring all the participants wearing authentic Venetian masks.
 
Adults were treated to fun facts about the history of Carnevale and beautiful Venetian masks, Italian wine, and wellness products were offered as prizes.  

 

The Carnevale season lasts through February 21st, so let's all keep the spirit of Carnevale alive in our own homes and families!     

 

Click here to see more photos. 

Member News

Jennifer Palmieri, a 2011 DC Wise Woman honoree has been named the Deputy Communications Director at the White House.  Jennifer was the vice president for communication at the Center for American Progress and had worked at the White House during the Clinton years.  ****************************************************************************

Community News

The Garibaldi Meucci Museum is holding the Antonio Meucci Young Inventors Competition to honor the legacy of the great Italian Inventor.  The competition is open to all school children city wide in grades 4-8 and is a wonderful celebration of the ingenuity of our young minds. More information and application is available by visiting www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org