Boys’ Towns of Italy By Kathleen Giordano
On Friday, March 30th, The Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan was swarming with people who gathered together in celebration of the Sixty-Second annual Boys’ Towns of Italy, “Ball of the Year”. The mistress of ceremony was Rosanna Scotto of Fox 5 News. The man of the year award was presented to Peter F Vallone Sr., American Politician and former Democratic New York City Councilman. The Humanitarian Award was received by Dr. Paula A. Moynahan. She was the first woman elected to the Connecticut Society of Plastic Surgeons, and one of the first to establish outpatient plastic surgical centers. Successful business and restaurant owner, Cav. Amato L Berardi also received a Humanitarian Award. The Celebrities of the Year Awards were presented to well-known actor, Ben Gazzara and legendary, Grammy Award winning R&B soul singer Patti LaBelle. Peter Duchin provided the music for the evening. Other star celebrities that were in attendance were Gena Rowlands, Lilliane Montevecchi, Mercedes Ellington, Tommy Tune, Carmen Dell’orefice, and Denise Rich. Patti LaBelle got the crowds feet stomping while singing “On My Own” & “Lady Marmelade”.
Brother Anthony E. D’Adamo C.F.C, Executive Vice President of Boys Towns of Italy spoke via telephone with Your Life to describe some of their history. The Boys Town of Italy started with the work of the late Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing. He began his efforts giving love and giving "a second chance in life" to the boys and girls of Italy whose lives had been turned upside down. The children were abandoned and were physically disfigured, first by the War, then by its aftermath, and eventually by multiple natural disasters after World War II.
Today, The Boys’ Town of Italy aids underprivileged homeless, hungry, and orphans of war children. The Girls’ Town of Italy was formed a few years after The Boys Town of Italy. While making a movie in Rome, actress Linda Darnell made the suggestion to create a place for girls. She offered a villa to begin the organization and soon after it became a huge success. Many well-known individuals have come together to support the organization since its inception.
Most of the donations for both organizations come from people in the United States. There was a time when many of the children came from broken homes. Today most of the children come from countries that are politically and economically in trouble. Many of these children come from countries where they are subjected to human trafficking, slavery and abuse. The children’s strength is heartbreaking.
The children that are in the organization do have the opportunity to receive a scholarship and go to college. An estimated three out of 15 attend a University upon graduation from high school. The children learn trades such as art, upholstery, stain glass painting, wood making and computer classes. IBM and Apple computer companies have created a grant that allows children to learn basic computer programming and design skills. A quote from the poem written by the founder Monsignor John Patrick Carroll, “When you leave here this evening, look up at the sky and remember that for every tear you wipe from the eye of a child another star is lit in the sky!”
For more information on making donations please go to the website: http://www.boystown.it/.
Research Intern: Laura Salzarulo
Photography: Helen Macchina
Boys’ Town Photos: Brother Anthony D’Adamo
On Friday, March 30th, The Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan was swarming with people who gathered together in celebration of the Sixty-Second annual Boys’ Towns of Italy, “Ball of the Year”. The mistress of ceremony was Rosanna Scotto of Fox 5 News. The man of the year award was presented to Peter F Vallone Sr., American Politician and former Democratic New York City Councilman. The Humanitarian Award was received by Dr. Paula A. Moynahan. She was the first woman elected to the Connecticut Society of Plastic Surgeons, and one of the first to establish outpatient plastic surgical centers. Successful business and restaurant owner, Cav. Amato L Berardi also received a Humanitarian Award. The Celebrities of the Year Awards were presented to well-known actor, Ben Gazzara and legendary, Grammy Award winning R&B soul singer Patti LaBelle. Peter Duchin provided the music for the evening. Other star celebrities that were in attendance were Gena Rowlands, Lilliane Montevecchi, Mercedes Ellington, Tommy Tune, Carmen Dell’orefice, and Denise Rich. Patti LaBelle got the crowds feet stomping while singing “On My Own” & “Lady Marmelade”.
Brother Anthony E. D’Adamo C.F.C, Executive Vice President of Boys Towns of Italy spoke via telephone with Your Life to describe some of their history. The Boys Town of Italy started with the work of the late Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing. He began his efforts giving love and giving "a second chance in life" to the boys and girls of Italy whose lives had been turned upside down. The children were abandoned and were physically disfigured, first by the War, then by its aftermath, and eventually by multiple natural disasters after World War II.
Today, The Boys’ Town of Italy aids underprivileged homeless, hungry, and orphans of war children. The Girls’ Town of Italy was formed a few years after The Boys Town of Italy. While making a movie in Rome, actress Linda Darnell made the suggestion to create a place for girls. She offered a villa to begin the organization and soon after it became a huge success. Many well-known individuals have come together to support the organization since its inception.
Most of the donations for both organizations come from people in the United States. There was a time when many of the children came from broken homes. Today most of the children come from countries that are politically and economically in trouble. Many of these children come from countries where they are subjected to human trafficking, slavery and abuse. The children’s strength is heartbreaking.
The children that are in the organization do have the opportunity to receive a scholarship and go to college. An estimated three out of 15 attend a University upon graduation from high school. The children learn trades such as art, upholstery, stain glass painting, wood making and computer classes. IBM and Apple computer companies have created a grant that allows children to learn basic computer programming and design skills. A quote from the poem written by the founder Monsignor John Patrick Carroll, “When you leave here this evening, look up at the sky and remember that for every tear you wipe from the eye of a child another star is lit in the sky!”
For more information on making donations please go to the website: http://www.boystown.it/.
Research Intern: Laura Salzarulo
Photography: Helen Macchina
Boys’ Town Photos: Brother Anthony D’Adamo
