Preserving Our Italian Heritage

The second quarter of 2022 is in the books and in the quarter for FOI it has been a very productive quarter.

Our membership is growing every month. We are now over 160 members and growing. Those that are members see the value we bring. And their donation dues help us keep the doors open and plan our events.

In April the FOI Scholarship Committee accepted, reviewed, 10 scholarship applications for 5 $1,000 scholarships. Our committee discussed and decided to offer the other 5 students $500 scholarships. The applicants that were first time entering college were first in line to receive the $1,000 awards. (see the FOI Scholarship flyer for all scholarship recipients) Ken Molinaro (Cardinale) again donated two tickets to his Costa Sur Resort and Spa in Puerto Vallarta for two, including airfare and all inclusive vacation. Tickets are $50 and the drawing will be in December. These funds support our scholarship program. Go online and buy your tickets NOW.

We launched the FOI Family Rosary evening via Zoom. The next Family Rosary will be July 11th and the first Monday of every month at 6pm for the rest of 2022. Please join us and tell your family and friends to join us. Watch your FOI email for your Zoom invitation.

Mike & Alise Inzerillo represented FOI on a visit to Isola delle Femmine in April. They met with Sindaco Nevoloso, Stefano Bologna, Marco, and Tonino Scala. They told me they had a great time.

On a very sad note, the president of the Pittsburg-Isola delle Femmine Sister City Forever Committee Tonino Scala’s wonderful and beautiful wife Rosa Aiello Scala passed away. Rosa had the most beautiful smile and she was always happy to see us. We will miss her so much.

We had a High Tea-Italian Style at the Pittsburg Elks Club where we served 200 patrons everyone had a wonderful time, great food, and so much fun. The waiters were dressed in costumes; Father Guido Scarducci, The Godfather, The old Sicilian, a Gondolier, Roman Senator, Caesar, a Nun and even Elvis showed up. It was another successful production by Mary Pappas Coniglio and Roselyn Malfitano. A job well done even though you broke your behinds. Stayed tuned to next year’s High Tea.

June 12, we held our 2nd Annual Old Fashion Sicilian-American Picnic held at the Waterfront Park in Martinez. We again packed them in. This event is where we showcase our scholarship program by distributing the checks to the scholarship winners.

Help us sustain our scholarships by buying a raffle ticket for the Costa Sur Resort & Spa all Inclusive 1-week vacation including airfare for 2. The raffle tickets are $50 and you can purchase them online at www.friendsofisola.org.

So, as you can see, we have been busy again. And there is no stopping us. We need to raise funds to survive as an organization and to provide scholarships to our members families.

To put all of these wonderful cultural events we need help. Some of our members have stepped up to help, thank you, but we need more help. So please volunteer to our cause, to protect, promote and preserve our Italian-American cultural heritage. Contact us at friendsofisola@gmail.com and let us know you will help.

Upcoming events that are in the planning is a Fall Monterey event, a “Potentially Dangerous” documentary show case, a Winter Pittsburg Event in October. So, stay tuned.

Millie Grazie,

NEW FOI MEMBERS since last newsletter

Douglas Otmar
Catherine Compagno
John Compagno
Ed & Bella Leonard
Joseph Cardinale
Peter & Rochelle Coniglio
Patricia (Russo) & Edward Terwilliger
Melba Catania
Faye Dawdy
Lynette Allen
Gywnne Davi