On Saturday, February 7th, a very special event for the entire Italian community took place: L’Italo-Americano Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner. Several representatives of local Italian-American societies, besides the newspaper’s patrons and supporters, have enthusiastically attended to the gala.
Very meaningful for lots of first and older generation Italian immigrants is the setting where the event was hosted: Casa Italiana, home of the Italian community since 1972. It is also Saint Peter’s Church Hall, a half classical, half Californian mission-style church.
Saint Peter’s Mission was founded in 1904 and, since then, has been faithfully serving the Italian community for over a hundred years, throughout vicissitudes which forced it to change location several times, until the foundation in 1947 of the church as we know it today.
Over time, Saint Peter has been chosen as wedding setting by myriad Italians or Italian-Americans, even by cornerstones of the community like Commendatore Frank J. DeSantis, who has held numerous prestigious roles, including National Past President of the Order Sons of Italy in America, and is currently president of the Italian Cultural Arts and Chief Administrative Officer of the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation.
And now, enough with nostalgic memories, let’s relive the joyful and amiable gala together, held in a banquet room, decorated with heart-shaped balloons and flowers, in theme with the upcoming Valentine’s Day. The evening was presented by the humorous Master of Ceremonies Filippo Voltaggio, born in Monterey to Sicilian parents, as well as former IBM manager, who later in life has pursued his beloved artistic career as singer and entertainer.
The first two speakers, who kicked off the evening, are both driving forces of the newspaper: passionate publisher and president of the Italo-American Foundation Robert J. Barbera and director Simone Schiavinato.
Filippo entertained the audience with fun jokes, for example by opening a copy of the newest edition of L’Italo-Americano and pretending that a photo of actor-director Milo Ventimiglia was his own “photo-shopped” portrait. Then, flipping through the pages, he pointed at a period painting of Gioacchino Rossini, saying that it portrayed himself, dressed in vintage clothes.
Throughout the evening, Filippo alternated on stage with actress and singer Maria Elena Infantino, daughter of the eminent Sicilian tenor Luigi Infantino.
Accompanied by her tuneful voice, singing in five languages – Italian, English, French, plus Sicilian and Neapolitan, which might be regarded as such – and her theatrical mastery at performing, all the guests weren’t denied our biggest Italian pride: a series of wine-paired delicacies, prepared by the chef of Casa Italiana and kindly sponsored by D’Aquino Italian Importing Co.
Maria Elena’s repertoire included classics, the likes of O Sole Mio, La Vie En Rose, Lu Me Sceccu (played in Godfather Part II), Quando Quando, and That’s Amore.
At the focal point of the gala, Filippo displayed his own singing talent, performing a traditional Neapolitan song, which speaks to the heart of every Italian immigrant, who cannot forget his or her beloved roots.
Right after, our highest authority, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles Antonio Verde, delivered an inspirational speech, praising the constant efforts of L’Italo-Americano as “vibrant voice of our community” and remarking how the newspaper needs everyone’s support.
Next, the Consul General praised the paper’s commitment to promoting a real bilingualism and thanked the staff for organizing such a beautiful event. He quoted Henryk Sienkiewicz, 1905 Nobel Prize-winning novelist’s words from On the Bright Shore: “I think that every man has two fatherlands: one his own, the nearer, and the other Italy.”
Consul General Antonio Verde stressed how the spirit of attachment to the community, as it is conveyed in these words, has fed L’Italo-Americano throughout its centennial history.
Lastly, Consul Verde introduced the Life Achievement Award for the illustrious Commendatore Frank J. DeSantis by quoting J. F. Kennedy’s words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, as the perfect framework for his numerous contributions.
DeSantis thanked his friend Robert Barbera and stated his commitment to support L’Italo-Americano, defining it as the “ultimate connection” to our community.
No doubt, the “sweetest notes” of the gala were the delicious gelato, paired with a fruity wine, gently offered by Bulgarini Gelato Artigianale and the perfectly brewed espressos, always useful after drinking one too many, kindly offered by Pasquini Espresso Company.
The very grand finale was the raffle drawing, whose great prizes, donated by generous sponsors, included rich gift baskets and gift certificates for a wine tasting, a cooking class, and two language courses, one at the IIC of Los Angeles and the other in Palermo, Sicily, a fantastic two-week study trip.
Donate