CAF President Viola and National Executive Director Cioffi to Receive NYS OSIA Honor
December 16, 2012 – CAF is delighted to announce that CAF National President Anthony Viola and National Executive Director Gina Cioffi will be presented with Special Humanitarian Awards by the New York State Grand Lodge Foundation of Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). The presentation will take place as part of the Grand Lodge’s 20th Anniversary Winter Charity Ball, to be held on Friday, February 1, 2013 at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place, NY. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and the per person donation of $90.00 includes cocktails, dinner and dancing. To download an invitation, click here.
In a letter to supporters, Annette Lankewish (Winter Charity Ball Chairperson) and Madeline Matteucci (Winter Charity Ball Co-Chairperson) mention Tony and Gina’s “wonderful accomplishments” and state that “both of these fine Italian-American role models have given so much of their time and effort to advance the treatment of and to help find a cure for this fatal blood disease.”
Other individuals to be honored at the Winter Charity Ball include OSIA New York State Grand Lodge President Thomas Lupo, as well as Julia Bastiani, President of the Italian-American Labor Council, who will receive the Special Recognition Award.
“It is truly a very special honor to be the recipient of this award,” says Tony, who assumed the Presidency of the Foundation in 2008. “All those in the Italian-American community know of the tremendous work done by the brothers and sisters of OSIA and hold it in the highest regard. I am humbled by this recognition and once again must express my deepest gratitude to OSIA for its dedication and devotion to the fight against thalassemia. Without OSIA, CAF could not have succeeded in all the accomplishments and progress that has been made since the OSIA alliance was established many years ago. Nothing that I and the Foundation have achieved could have been accomplished without the steadfast support of the members of OSIA.”
“I am overwhelmed at this unexpected recognition,” says Gina. “Working on behalf of the incredible people in the thalassemia community is its own reward; being honored in this way is something I never expected and something that truly must be shared with the OSIA membership. It is because of the undying, unyielding love and support of the brothers and sisters of OSIA that CAF has been able to accomplish so much. I look forward to celebrating our mutual accomplishments on the Winter Charity Ball, and to once again enjoying the opportunity of being among so many people whose kindness and generosity has deeply affected the lives of all those living with thalassemia.”
CAF congratulates Tony and Gina on this well-deserved recognition and thanks OSIA for its continued support of the Foundation and its goals.