Celebrating 41 years of Italian Americans in sports, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame hosted its annual star-studded Induction and awards gala on Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. With 700 guests on hand, the NIASHF welcomed the all-star class of 2018, which included Rocco B. Commisso, owner and chairman of the New York Cosmos; Gina Carano, Muay Thai champion and MMA contender; Gene Pingatore, head coach of St. Joseph’s High School boys basketball team; and Joe Girardi, Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series champion player and manager.

Sharing the stage with this year’s inductees, Perry Mandera of the Custom Companies Inc. received the prestigious Sportsman of the Year Award in recognition of his philanthropic work through Custom Cares Charities. Custom Cares supports a diverse group of organizations that share a mission to help individuals in need, from disadvantaged youth, educational programs, veterans and those affected by natural disasters. This year’s honorees represented the best in their respective fields, both on and off the playing field.