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(7-29-20)
Il
Circolo Begins its 45th Year!
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Antonella
Brancaccio,
Sally
Valenti,
Chris
Salamone |
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Suzanne
Petti,
Emelio
Petti |
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Barbara
Salani with son, Gregory |
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Joan
Nova,
Concetta
Schiatarella |
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Rose
DeAngelis,
Kimberly
De Angelis,
Megan
De Angelis |
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Sally
Valenti,
Gino
De Marco |
Il
Circolo held its 44th Anniversary Gala, Celebrazione delle
Donne, at The Breakers on March 8th, International Women’s
Day. The sold-out dinner-dance was indeed a celebration par
excellence. Music by Gino De Marco’s band which included 4
singers kept the dance floor full and lively. Other stellar
performances by concert pianists Sergio and Barbara Salani, tenor
Carlos De Antonis and Italian pop singer Alessandro Coli, who came
from Rimini, Italy, to attend, made for an entertainment-packed
evening.
The
party began with a Tuscan cocktail hour, followed by dinner in the
Gold Room. After the singing of the American and Italian anthems,
a welcome from President Paul Finizio, greetings by event chairs
Antonella Brancaccio Balzano and Chris Salamone, and a blessing
from Bishop Gerald Barbarito read by Patrick Valenti, the
sumptuous feast was served.
Honoree
Barbara Salani, international concert pianist, educator and author
of "Music for Life", stated in her thank-you speech that
she revered the welcome she has received from Il Circolo and the
Florida community since she moved to the U.S. and will continue to
follow her dedication to educating young people especially in the
musical arts.
Honoree
Sally Valenti, affectionately known as La Regina of Il Circolo
for her 35 years of service, was greeted at the podium by Paul
Leone, CEO of The Breakers, with a sparkling-jeweled crown which
was placed on her head. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to
her immigrant parents, the founders of Il Circolo, to Paul Finizio
for his daily phone calls, to her devoted family, all of whom were
there, and to the organization which gave her purpose and
opportunities for continued learning in her golden years.
As
a token of appreciation for their dedication to preserving Italian
culture, the two honorees received beautiful ceramic gifts made in
Italy.
As
the evening ended, each guest left the party with a smiling face,
a Buona Notte, and an Italian designer bag full of Italian
goodies donated by Colavita, DelGrosso, Ferrero, Vigo/Alessi,
Flora, and Cosa Duci.
Il
Circolo is ready for its 45th year!
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Family
at the Gala |
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