As the school year draws to a close and many of us begin to think about summer vacation, I write to ask for your support of the Sons of Italy Foundation's (SIF) scholarship program. I'm confident that, after reading the rest of this email, you will feel compelled to help in whatever way you can.

You see, last week nearly 900 people -- many of them leaders in business, government, the military, philanthropy and entertainment -- met the SIF's 2013 national scholarship recipients for the first time at the NELA Gala in Washington, D.C. The accomplishments of these young Italian Americans, who are matriculating high school seniors, already undergraduates, or pursuing post-graduate study, were showcased by NELA Gala master of ceremonies Joe Mantegna.

He marveled at their staggering achievements and dedication; so did the hundreds of other guests, and rightly so! They are AP scholars of distinction, Eagle Scouts, students at the the nation's top schools like Yale and Princeton, published authors, and an Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran.

The 2013 Sons of Italy Foundation National Leadership Grant recipients. Read more about them (on pg 32): NELA Gala Journal

These students are just the latest crop to receive financial support from the SIF for their academic endeavors. The SIF has presented some 300 students with nearly $2.5 million in scholarships to pursue their dreams.

Previous scholarship winners truly embody what the SIF stands for -- a commitment to changing the world and ensuring the world recognizes the value of Italian contributions. Past recipients are dedicating themselves to researching cancer, teaching underprivileged youth, supporting the development of technology for people with disabilities, and teaching the next generations of college students. They have served as advocates for missing and exploited children, gone on research expeditions to Antarctica, and have earned numerous honors along the way. (Read more about previous scholarship winners on page 34 of the NELA Gala Journal and on our blog.)

None of this can be accomplished, however, without the support of our friends who understand the importance of education and believe that young Italian Americans are our future and can change the world. The SIF turns to you now and asks for your help to keep our scholarship fund thriving, so we can continue to award 8-10 scholarships to deserving students next year and beyond.

Please give a gift today to support future young Italian American scholars. No amount is too small, and every gift is completely tax-deductible. When you make a gift online to support our scholarship efforts, please designate your contribution for the SIF fund called "general scholarship fund."

On behalf of our future scholarship recipients, THANK YOU in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

Vincent Sarno
President, Sons of Italy Foundation