The Italian Welfare League, a non-profit dedicated to helping Italian-American children with serious health conditions or disabilities will celebrate its 100 year anniversary this fall. The organization will host a Luncheon on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the Metropolitan Club in New York City to pay tribute to its history of providing services to Italian immigrants at Ellis Island and to its ongoing mission of helping Italian-American children in need.

Founded in 1920, the Italian Welfare League had a desk at Ellis Island and became the only aid society exclusively assisting Italians. This allowed it to assist thousands of immigrants arriving in New York, who were struggling with poverty, family hardships and language barriers.

“We are so grateful to finally have the opportunity to celebrate, in-person, this year with our supportive community of members, past recipients and honorees,” said Joan Prezioso, President of the Board of the Italian Welfare League. “We had to post-pone our original centennial celebrations due to COVID- 19 so this will be all the more special that we can gather together to recognize the wonderful work that the League does for the most vulnerable children in our community.”

At this year’s centennial luncheon, the Italian Welfare League will honor three notable Italian-Americans who have been exceptional in their fields: Dr. Ronald C. Gentile, Professor of Opthalmology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai and NYU Langone and NYU Long Island School of Medicine; Honorable Capri S. Cafaro, the former Ohio State Senator, TV Commentator, Executive in Residence at American University and Visiting Fellow at London School of Economics; and Renee Cafaro, US Editor of Slink Magazine and a writer, designer and philanthropist.

“This year’s honorees truly embody the spirit of the League,” said Linda Carlozzi, Chairwoman of the Board of the Italian Welfare League. “ Ronald, Capri and Renee have all distinguished themselves as exemplary role models.”

This year’s Luncheon Benefactor is the Giambelli Foundation. The Honorary Luncheon Chairman is Minister Plenipotentiary Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy. Tony Aiello from CBS 2 - New York will serve as the emcee and guests will enjoy a performance by Tre Bella, the three part harmony all-female group from Manhattan.

Proceeds from the Luncheon benefit the Italian Welfare League’s “I Nostri Bambini” program which helps children of Italian-American descent and gives grants to several organizations that provide services for children that have Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome, cancer, cerebral palsy or other disabilities.

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About Italian Welfare League: The Italian Welfare League, founded in 1920, is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the ongoing needs of Italian-Americans throughout the United States. Headquartered in New
York City, the Italian Welfare League focuses on assisting children with health problems and those who find themselves in crisis. Since 2001, the League has donated approximately $2.5 million to more than 2,100 children and has provided grants to several organizations that provide services to children. For further information, please visit: www.italianwelfareleague.org.