Before Italian heritage is celebrated in Wheeling this Friday through Sunday at the 40th Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival, the Italian Festival Board first honored the 2023 Italian-American of the Year, Tom Fato, at the Festival Kickoff dinner Wednesday night. 

Chairperson of the 2023 Italian Festival, Anthony Filberto, introduced Fato, emphasizing that there was no single achievement that made Fato the Italian-American of the Year. Instead, as “the most diverse honoree,” according to Filberto, Fato was selected for both his excellence in sports and for his extensive service to his community as a teacher, coach and businessman.