Preserving Our Italian Heritage

News from our Executive Board

As you now know this year we will publish 2 newsletters, and this one is the second. The next newsletter will be January 1, 2026.

As in past years, FOI performed three major events to raise funds for administrative purposes and scholarships.

On March 1 Roselyn & Vincenzo Malfitano put on the FOI Monterey Chapter “Speak Easy” High Tea to a sold-out event at the Monterey Moose Lodge. It was so much fun. The entertainment by the James Coniglio troupe was spectacular. Many of the guests were dressed in Roaring Twenty’s attire and most of the attendees were completely surprised at the quality of the decorations by Roselyn, the food created and orchestrated by Mary Coniglio, and the entertainment. Very successful event, thank you FOI Monterey Chapter.

Next up was the highly anticipated FOI Pittsburg High Tea but not the same High Tea but a “Speak Easy” High Tea. This was the brainchild of Mary Coniglio who in my book is extremely talented and most creative in coming up with wonderful ideas for fundraisers. Again, the entertainment and food were fantastic, and again the guests were pleasantly surprised. Both High Teas were totally successful.

FOI is known for spectacular high-level, academy award productions. Thank you all who volunteer for these events. Without our volunteers, and there is an army of them, we could not put on such successful productions. Thank you so very much.

And on June 8th we had our Annual FOI Scholarship Award Picnic to another full house. It was held at the Martinez Waterfront Park and was a catered affair by Zandonella’s Catering except for the Kinder sausage cooked by Danny Pellegrini and crew. It was all delicious. The attendees brought a plethora of wonderful, delicious deserts. Oh yes watermelon was served too. The picnic was not all about the food but the 11 FOI scholarship recipients who received $1,000 each. In attendance were 8 of the 11 and their families. It was a wonderful day; the weather was fabulous. Again, we want to thank the Martinez Chapter headed up by Mike Inzerillo. It was a day to remember.

We had several guests attend which included Martinez councilmembers, Debbie Belleci McKellop, Satinder Mahli and Vice Mayor Jay Howard who served up the delicious food.

Special guests were novelist Lindsay Marie Morris and her husband Matt. Lindsay has written a couple of books, one is “The Last Letter from Sicily” and her latest is “Beneath the Sicilian Stars”. The story set in Isola delle Femmine during WW II and the struggles of Annalisa Aiello traveling to Pittsburg, California. The evacuation and internment of Italian Americans.

Oh yes, we signed up several new members as well.

Well as you can see another full successful first half of 2025 is now in the books.

VIDEOS FROM PAST SHOWS