24 APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2018 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
FIAO celebrates at 41st annual gala
BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK
MMCGOLDRICK@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Bravo!
The Federation of Italian
American Organizations
(FIAO) celebrated its 41st anniversary
on Sunday, April 8 with its annual gala
at the El Caribe Country Club.
The gala — which was attended by
some 560 people — triples as a fundraiser
for the organization, a way to
honor members of the community
and an opportunity to present college
scholarships to young men and women
preparing for high school graduation.
Honorees this year included the
Honorable Joseph Tacopina, Eileen
Peralta, Dr. Mark Sherman and Dr.
Gary Sherman.
"The honorees this year, in one way
or another, were beneficial to the
federation, and role models in the
community, and deserved the recognition,"
said Frank Naccarato, FIAO
vice president."
Among the guests were former
New York First Lady Matilda Cuomo
and actor Tony LoBianco. Cuomo, said
Naccarato, "Has quite an interest in the
community, the federation and the
center and has been a strong supporter
from way back."
In addition to honoring local leaders,
FIAO presented scholarships to 12 college
bound students, said Naccarato,
and "celebrated the recent completion
of the cultural center Il Centro, the
first Italian-American cultural center
in New York City," which has a target
opening date to the general public of
later this spring."
The El Caribe is located at 5945
Strickland Avenue.
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur de Gaeta
Scenes from the FIAO 41st anniversary celebration.
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