FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Lisa M. Comento

PR/Marketing Coordinator

Premio Eccellenza Italiana

(202) 431-8027

Lisa.comento@gmail.com

IN RESPONSE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, THE ANNUAL IITALIAN EXCELLENCE AWARD HOLDS SIMULTANEOUS CEREMONIES IN ROME AND WASHINGTON DC FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!

 IN HONOR OF NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, THE PRESTIGIOUS PREMIO ECCELLENZA ITALIANA AWARD CEREMONIES CONTINUE IN BOTH ITALY AND THE US WITH SMALL, COVID-COMPLIANT EVENTS AND SIMULTANEOUS BROADCASTING.

WASHINGTON, DC   Since travel restrictions have made it impossible to hold the annual Premio Eccellenza Awards in  the United States alone, the committee has decided to offer two simultaneous ceremonies.  One will be held in Washington, DC, and the other in Rome Italy. Thanks to the hospitality of the Barnabite Fathers’ San Carlo ai Catinari extra-territorial building, Rome will witness the excellence of businesses and professions, skills and talents, including young people who aim to grow and improve. The idea for the award was born 7 years ago by journalist and Lucidi Communication Corporation CEO Massimo Lucidi.  Each year Mr. Lucidi gathers dozens of protagonists of tales of merit and talent in Washington DC, duing the month dedicated to Italian-American Heritage.

“In this time we bring a breath of hope and new air to both the United States and Italy, which look to professionalism that is committed to the success and rebirth of their businesses and world-wide networking,” encourages the award – creator Massimo Lucidi with the quote which will be used to open the seventh edition of the Italian Excellence Award.

After three years with Santo Versace and three years with George Guido Lombardi now the scepter of the award’s presidency passes to Tonino Lamborghini, who, together with Massimo Lucidi, leads the committees of the Award, in Italy and in the world to “organize Hope” .

An expression that together with the date recalls a great witness of our time:

October 16, the day in which the election of Pope John Paul II is commemorated, in the year of the centenary of his birth. A strong reference that is also found in the winners.

In fact, among the awarded excellences, Carlotta Bernabei and Martha Michelini director and author of the Rai television series “L’Uomo in Bianco”, dedicated to 4 Popes of the twentieth century including Wojtyla, winners in the rich Cinema section of the award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to actress Sandra Milo this year, while for the film industry section the producer Andrea Iervolino will be awarded, also in line with the theme of the award, after having succeeded in having Pope Francis act in person in one excerpt of one of his films.

The event, which will be held in Rome on October 16, will be held in full compliance with Italian regulations on Covid, while reaffirming the extra-territoriality of Palazzo San Carlo ai Catinari. In connection with Washington DC where the US Award committee meets, there will be an additional, small, Covid-compliant ceremony.    The American awards ceremony will be hosted by award-winning author, chef and television personality Amy Riolo, who is also the soul of the American committee and has a strong desire to create links between the two Atlantic shores.

The American ceremony will be held at  the award-winning Stellina Pizzeria.  The award-recipients will be: Former Congresswoman/Ambassador Constance Morella, Dr. Giancarlo Chiancone, Margaret I Cuomo, MD from NYC, Anonio Matarazzo and Chef Matteo Venini, co-owners of Stellina, and Giuseppe Castiello from Miami.  Opening remarks will be made by Fr. Ezio Marchetto, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church. Dr. Antonella Discepolo Chiancone, founder of Tenderness,  will discuss the important advancements in providing emotional education for children in both Italy and the United States.

The co-conduction will be entrusted to Amy Riolo and Massimo Lucidi who will alternate in the overseas television links, (offered by America Oggi TV) to award the winners to assign prizes, merits and principals of excellence.  Among the winners: Antonio Uricchio president of Anvur for research; for medicine Loreto Gesualdo, Dean of the Uniba Faculty of Medicine; Danilo Iervolino for the university section; Antonio Cogliandro president of Capital Markets Consulting for Finance; Francesco Morra Mayor of Pellezzano for territorial marketing; the journalist Annamaria Boniello and the writer Luca Marfé; Andrea Colla, new president of Coldiretti Veneto for the start-up San Marco Venezia 1204; for the management section Armando Perrone of Leonardo Leone Group.

For more information about the award ceremony, please email Amy Riolo at amy@amyriolo.com.