2008 Golden Lion Dinner Huge Success
 news posted on: 5/2/2008

The New York Grand Lodge Foundation, Order Sons of Italy in America held its 26th Golden Lion Dinner at the exquisite Garden City Hotel on Friday evening, April 11, 2008.  The event was not only a huge financial success … but a wonderful social success!  With a crowd of 300 guests … everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and proud to be in attendance for their special honoree.
 
2008 Golden Lion Dinner – left to right … Honorees Bruno Ciacciarelli, Robert S. LoPinto, Foundation President Nancy DiFiore Quinn, Honorees Theodore H. Jacobsen, Gaetano V. Bello, Pharm. D., MD and Golden Lion Dinner Chairman Thomas Lupo.


Thomas Lupo served as the General Dinner Chairperson for this event and lauded the accomplishments of the 2008 Golden Lion recipients …. Gaetano V. Bello, Pharm.D., MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital … Bruno Ciacciarelli, President of Roadtex Transportation … Robert S. LoPinto, Executive Director, Complex Manager of Morgan Stanley.  The singular 2008 Citizen Award was presented to Theodore H. Jacobsen, Secretary Emeritus, New York City Labor Council, AFL-CIO. 

Special thanks to Tony Aiello, CBS 2’s Westchester Bureau reporter, for adding his “gift of voice” to our program. He added a wonderful professionalism to our presentation and expressed his pride in his Italian heritage along with his appreciation for being asked to be part of this event.

Singer and songwriter Giada Valenti sang the Italian National Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner at the opening of the event.  With her soothing beautiful voice, Giada entertained us during the evening to the joy and delight of everyone.

This is a very special night for the New York Grand Lodge Foundation … a night to honor prominent Italian Americans and to laud their many civic and philanthropic endeavors. 

Foundation President Nancy DiFiore Quinn said “For over two and a half decades this Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to many worthwhile charitable organizations such as Alzheimer’s, Cancer Research, Arthritis Foundation … and most especially our national charity … the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation.  As a private, grant making establishment, we also make every effort to assist in the preservation of our Italian heritage by funding cultural events and encouraging the study of the Italian language.  A successful night such as this … a pinnacle of success … is so very satisfying to all of us who work so hard in achieving our objectives for the New York Grand Lodge Foundation.”

  

Sincere thanks to our National and State Officers, filial lodges and special dignitaries for supporting this event. Whether you purchased a journal ad … or attended the dinner, your support of this main fund raising event of the New York Grand Lodge Foundation is sincerely appreciated.

We look forward to next year’s event when we celebrate the 27th Anniversary of New York OSIA’s Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc., Order Sons of Italy in America.