2017 Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala

Jul 11, 2017 1640

BY: Frank J. Panessa and Daniel J. Longo

The Guglielmo Marconi Award, the Order Sons of Italy in America’s (OSIA) highest honor, is named for the Nobel prize-winning Italian physicist who invented wireless telegraphy. It is presented biennially to an Italian American who has made significant contributions to the United States.

This year’s honoree is Senator Maria Lorts Sachs, who served as Florida State Senator from 2010 to 2016. She will be recognized at the Marconi Gala during the Sons of Italy’s 55th Biennial National Convention in Sarasota, Florida.

This year we honor Maria Lorts Sachs, an Italian American who has held public office and championed women’s and veteran’s causes. In 2006, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served two terms until she was elected to the Florida Senate in 2010. She served one term as State Senator and rather than seeking reelection, she became Executive Director of Innovation Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of innovation by providing support in the areas of policy advancement, academic outreach, workforce development, talent acquisition, entrepreneurialism, and global outreach. In a true World War II romance, Maria’s parents met in Naples when her father was a commissioned officer in the United States Army Infantry helping to liberate Italy. 

Please join us as we celebrate the history and legacy of OSIA. OSIA lodges and the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF), award hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to Italian American college-bound students. The SIF also funds cultural programs, medical research and disaster relief – more than $164 million to date.  Proceeds from the Marconi Gala support these OSIA and SIF programs.

Please help us support these programs and pay tribute to Senator Sachs by attending the Marconi Gala and/or placing an advertisement in the Biennial National Convention commemorative journal. Please see the attached solicitation for information about ticket and ad purchases or contact Katie Vivian at 202.547.2900 or [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your support.

Tickets and tables must be reserved by July 31, 2017. Click here to RSVP and for more information

SOURCE: OSIA

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