FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Elena Isella | NIAF
eisella@niaf.org
412-596-5848 (c)
202-939-3108 (o)

(Washington, D.C. – August 24, 2022) – The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) was honored to have been recognized as the Italian American Organization of the Year by the Madonna Del Soccorso Society, the organizers of Boston’s Fisherman’s Festival. The annual award is presented to an organization that demonstrates efforts to preserve and support the Italian American heritage and culture.

The ceremony took place on the first day of the 112th Annual Fisherman’s Feast in Boston on Thursday, August 18.

“I’m thrilled to be here to receive this award on behalf of the National Italian American Foundation at this iconic feast which is so representative of what makes Italian culture great: food, family, friends and faith,” said NIAF President Robert Allegrini. “You are very fortunate in Boston to have this North End which remains one of the few intact, vibrant Italian neighborhoods left in the country.”

Boston’s mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts State Representative Paul Donato and City Councilor Gabriela Coletta attended the ceremony.

In order to further support the local Italian American community in Boston, NIAF used the occasion of the award ceremony to announce a new $5,000 scholarship for the 2023 academic year to an Italian American college student who is specifically a resident of Massachusetts. For more information on how to apply visit www.niaf.org.

Accepting the award on stage is NIAF President Robert Allegrini joined by Boston mayor Michelle Wu (third from the right) and officials of the Madonna del Soccorso Society (Credit: Matt Conti)

The Fisherman’s Feast is Boston’s oldest continuous Italian festival. Since 1910, the festival takes place in the city’s historic North End. The Feast is based on the devotion of the fishermen from Sciacca, Sicily to the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help).

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting the Italian American heritage and culture. To learn more about the Foundation and become a member, please visit www.niaf.org.