Sicilian Culture: The News: Historic Italian Hall

Sicilian Culture

The People, The History, The Culture

The News & Views
Historic Italian Hall - The Queen: No Longer In Rags
By Maria Giusto Villarreal
The Queen of the Southern California Italian community, the Historic Italian Hall, destined to be their heritage museum, will not much longer have to wear the shredded rags of her past decline nor will she any longer have to be held a prisoner of neglect. The active members of the Historic Italian Hall Foundation have tirelessly labored through the process of bringing the hall to the culmination of its design stage and they are currently looking forward to putting those architectural plans into action. To take them into the future, the foundation, in a collaborative effort between the Sicilia Culturale Society, an international organization, and 4 Points Press Publishing Company, spearheaded the foundations first Friendraiser Affair, making it a major fundraising success.
While this affair, primarily an information and status presentation, was to inform the public, especially Italians of the local community, it however escalated into a fundraising success, as if it had suddenly taken on a life of its own. First and foremost of those who so generously responded to the hall's need of restoration were George and Reva Graziadio, the co-founder's of Imperial Bank, a bank whose integrity, as a financial institution, is respected the world over as well as within the Italian community, reflects the ideals of their heritage.
Mr. Graziadio, a native of Connecticut, Calabrese by heritage, is truly a self made man in the old tradition. As so many of his times, the onset of the Great Depression forced him to quit school at a very young age and go to work to help with his family's finances. At the young, tender age of thirteen he had become a successful auctioneer. Inspired by his mother to travel to the west coast, where she herself had made many trips, he migrated from Connecticut to California at the beginning of WWII. There he took odd jobs eventually going into real estate, buying, building and selling commercial properties. From there he went into commercial banking with a partner forming the prestigious Imperial Bank. He and his wife Reva, whom he met and married in California, are philanthropists of the highest order, giving back to the community by contributing heavily to medical facilities and educational institutions. They have three children, two daughters and one son, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to carry on their traditions.
July 15, 2001, at Casa Italiana, of St. Peter's Italian Catholic Church, which is located on North Broadway, in Los Angeles, California was the appropriate scene for The Queen's first Friendraiser. The affair got underway at one o'clock in the afternoon, with over two hundred and fifty people in attendance, most of them representing their respective Italian organizations and societies. They continue their commitment to perpetuating their culture and preserving it for their future generations. The present example of the Friendraiser is an illustration of their dedication to preserving and perpetuating their heritage. True to their nature, they came out in force to support the Historic Italian Hall Foundation's efforts to reach the goals they had projected towards seeing the museum grow as the community's cultural and generational centerpiece.
The recent Friendraiser was the first kick-off towards reaching those goals and the foundation is now well on its way. With the help and the good graces of God, the foundation's assisting organizations and the community's individual donors, the members of the foundation's coalition can forge ahead to bejewel the Queen in the gems that she deserves.
The highlight of the afternoon, by way of a twenty-two minute video presentation, was a visual tour of the Hall in its present condition. The video, produced by 4pointspress, in collaboration with the Sicilia Culturale Society, both avid advocates for restoring the Historic Italian Hall, was well received by an appreciative audience. Cav. Andrew Asaro, president of Sicilia Culturale, first to appear on video, introduced Rosemarie Claro Lippman, president of the foundation, who narrated and guided the watching group through the first part of the video tour, gave her audience the historical background of the Historic Hall and elaborated on the proposed plans that will be in place for the restoration of the museum. Joining her mid-way in the video tour was the president of the Federated Italo-Americans Organization, Nick Costantini. His moving and dynamic message inspired the attendees to become involved in the Historic Italian Hall project. Because of the profound need to bring back the glory that was once associated with the Hall, the video, in its graphic presentation of the decline of the building, proved to have an intense impact on the audience.
Again, leading the response of the Hall's needs was the single donation made by George and Reva Graziadio,made during the showing of the video. Quickly following their vanguard gift was a contribution of $5000, from the Order of the Son's Of Italy, which was presented by Peter Tubiolo, a life long member and the past, California state president of that Order. With a cheerful smile and pride in her voice, Marisa Antonini, president of the Antonini Philanthropic Fund, immediately matched their bequest, presenting the foundation with an additional gift of $5,000. Without delay, in an appeal for all organizations to come forth and support the foundation's efforts, the president of the South Bay Italian Club, Carmela Funicello and her husband, Frank, presented the foundation with a $1000 check.
Captivated by the momentum, the attendees of the affair made many pledges as well. Although they are too numerous to mention here they were nonetheless equally responsible in furthering the success of the Friendraiser. Wearing their Milli Gratzie Wall badges with pride were the donors to that wall and their attendance was also one of the leading factors that helped to thrust home the need to help the foundation resurrect the fallen Queen.
What do we do next? Look forward to more Friendraisers as the Historic Italian Hall enters her next phases of development.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
We, here, at 4Points Press feel proud that we made as substantial a donation to the success of the Historic Italian Hall Foundation's Friendraiser as all those who served to committee it, attend it and donate funds to their event. Now, we move on to our next "Helping Hand" event, our own neighbor council, which kicks off its efforts to organize this month.
www.4pointspress.com/presspoints/2001/0805

HOME

Search || News & Views || People || History || Region || Language || Food || Cinema || Links || Contact Info