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Cin Cin To Italy

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NIAF
NIAF

A prime promoter of Italian culture in D.C., Pino Cicala, was honored at The National Italian American Foundation’s 39th anniversary awards gala Saturday night, attended by Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero.

The black-tie event, complete with glorious Italian wine poured liberally, drew 1,200 to the Washington Hilton for receptions, a dinner, and VIP parties.

A popular face in Italian circles and in the entertainment world everywhere -- actor and writer John Turturro -- boosted Italian achievements.

NIAF also honored former U.S. Congresswoman Susan Molinari, now vice president of public policy and government relations at Google; David Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna Corporation; and Pasqualino Monti, president of the Port Authority of Rome Civitavecchia.

Dinner co-hosts were glamorous Fox News business anchor and highlight of the evening Maria Bartiromo and affable actor Joe Piscopo. John R. Phillips, the United States’ ambassador to Italy, also attended. Special guests include actors Robert Davi and Tony Lo Bianco, writer/producer John Maggio and author Maria Laurino.

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Natalia Janetti
Natalia Janetti

A native of Sicily, Cicala is founder and editor of AMICO and Antenna Italia Radio-TV. NIAF awarded him its Special Achievement Award in Community Leadership.

Cicala’s AMICO is an information website that spreads the Italian culture throughout the nation’s capital and the United States. An architect by trade, Cicala earned a degree at Catholic University’s School of Architecture in 1960. He immigrated to the USA in 1955.

“…he has given back to the Italian American community selflessly,” said NIAF’s leadership. “Through his continuous and tireless promotion of Italian culture, no one individual has single-handedly worked harder to make the capital of the United States ‘more Italian.’”

Cicala is a prominent member in leadership positions in many Italian American organizations, including NIAF, the Lido Civic Club, the Italian Cultural Society, the Friendship Heights Rotary Club, and the Roma and Fiumedinisi lodges of the Sons of Italy.