Articles by: Giulia Madron

  • Life & People

    Back to The Roots: Italian American Identities in the US

    On June 12th, the Calandra Italian American Institute of New York hosted an event entirely dedicated to young Americans of Italian origins. Co-sponsored by ILICA, the panel “The New Generation of Americans of Italian Origins: the Value of the Italian Heritage in the 21st Century” was the second event  following one held back in February, which focused on the phenomenon of the so-called “brain relocation” of young Italians who moved to the US in search of a better
    future.

    Many young Americans connected to Italy, either because they were born from Italian immigrants or because they had relatives who moved to the US during the big immigration waves of the 1900s participated in the June 12th event.

    The discussion was moderated by Anthony J. Tamburri, Dean of the Calandra Italian American Institute.

    Three young panelists presented their experience as Italian Americans, their relationship with Italy and the challenges they face in today's fast-pace professional worlds during the panel discussion.

    Nicholas Adamo is a 2nd generation young Italian American and is currently the President of Bullion Shark, LLC, a market maker in physical precious metals.

    Steven Perrotta, also 2nd generation Italian American, is the Managing Partner of Perrotta Tax & Consulting Services, LLC and also a Real Estate Agent.

    Salvatore Ambrosino, is a 4th generation Italian American, born in New York and has travelled frequently to Rome with his family throughout his life. He currently works as the Media and Communications Coordinator at the Italy America Chamber of Commerce (IACC), where he is also the IACC Liaison to the Young Executives Committee of the IACC.

    For the three of them, Italy has been an important part of their lives in terms of cultural influence.

    “After the World Cup, I got really excited and I told my parents that I wanted to travel to Italy to visit our relatives and start to learn the language and the culture,” said Nicholas, who wanted to go back to his Italian roots, which his parents and grandparents almost lost when they moved to the US. “It was nice to experience the real culture since it is very different from what people here tell you, since things change over time.”

    “When my relatives moved here they wanted to assimilate with the American culture so they lost the language,” said Steven. However, he pointed out, certain traditions, for instance the holidays, did not change. “Of course they are Americanized, but we try to hold on to, as much as we can, to the values of my relatives who moved here. And I’ll try to continue to hold on to those values also for my children.”

    “I feel equally Italian and American. I appreciate Italy with the eyes of an American and the heart of an Italian,” said Salvatore, who, even if he is an Italian-American of the 4th generation, is really attached to Italy and throughout his life and career has always tried to get closer to Italian culture.

    Moreover, as Italian Americans, they all shared what would they choose as best of both countries.

    “Italian culture is the best in terms of fashion, cuisine and lifestyle in general. However, American work ethics are better,” said Nicholas.

    “American mentality is always about business,” affirmed Steven, who wanted to compare the way business is done both in Italy and America, since he has the opportunity and the experience of working together with Italian companies as well as American companies. “Working with Italian and European clients is different. You actually build almost a friendly relationship, because you get to know them on a personal level as well. That is the Italian and in general the European culture and I really appreciate that in a working environment,” he concluded.

    “In America there is a more of a go-getter attitude. We are born and raised in a country where everything is possible. But in Italy you seek the beautiful things and learn to put the problems aside. As Americans we should learn to acquire and appreciate the beautiful things. The same goes for the Italians who move here. If they acquired the so-called go-getter attitude I am sure we could make beautiful things happen,” affirmed Salvatore.

    Furthermore, they also discussed the influence of the media in representing the Italian American culture within the US. Presenting the example of the popular TV show “Jersey Shore,” they all agreed upon the distorted perception that media gives in terms of the Italian American identity.
    “It’s really distorted. People have no idea of what real Italian culture is,” affirmed Nicholas. “It sheds a terrible light on what Italian Americans are,” added Steven. “It is a completely distorted reality,” affirmed Salvatore. “It’s just the portrait of an Italian culture being Americanized in a wrong way.”

    After the insightful panel discussion, the event ended in the perfection of  Italian style: with delicious food of course!

  • Facts & Stories

    World Cup 2014, Great Start for Italy. Make us Dream Again, Guys!

    Prandelli and Chiellini said it: you are going to see another Italy in the field. They meant it!
    The National Italian team inaugurated the World Cup 2014 in Brazil with a bang. On Saturday the 12th, in Manaus, Italy played their  first game of round D against England. A fearful rival but the “Azzurri” of Cesare Prandelli did not disappoint the fans and the success in Brazil confirmed the tradition of the positive results against the English who have not beaten Italy in official matches since 1977.

    A difficult start for Italy, which in the first minutes of the game struggled on the accelerations of the English lions. Giorgio Chiellini, who is not a fullback player, really suffered from the attacks of Raheem Sterling and Danny Wellbeck who scared the Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu three times within the first 10 minutes.

    Convincing center field. Nothing to say about Italy’s center field. A tireless Candreva pushed in search of the shot, Marco Verratti never lost the ball and Andrea Pirlo acted as a movie director having the perfect vision of the whole game. And Claudio Marchisio scored (35’) with a harsh kick on the right corner that Joe Hart could not get.

    Lack of attention. Two minutes took England to even out the score (37’). Italy’s defense let down its guard and Wayne Rooney squeezed in on the left serving as perfect assist to Daniel Sturridge who scored without any complication in the defense area. Italy reacted almost immediately with a lob of Balotelli (45’) stopped by Phil Jagielka on the goal line.

    England strongly restarted the game during the second half of the match but the “Azzurri” punished the English lions: Darmian passed the ball to Candreva who, with a cross, served Mario Balotelli who, with a wonderful header, brought Italy ahead of the game: 2-1.

    England tries again. The English tried the rematch. Rooney, the star of the Mancherster United team, tried out twice to score a goal, but to no avail. Same bad luck struck Sturridge.

    Baines makes Italy shiver. 15 minutes before the final whistle, Leighton Baines frightened Italy with a penalty shot magically rejected by Sirigu.

    A bit arduous end that forced Prandelli to make a few changes and insert into the game Thiago Motta, Ciro Immobile e Marco Parolo who helped their teammates a lot during the final minutes. Within the 5 minutes before the game end, an amazing penalty shot by Andrea Pirlo nearly achieved the third goal, unfortunatelly hitting the crossbeam.

    Overall it was a great start for Italy, despite the environmental conditions and the absence of Gianluigi Buffon, due to the strain of his left ankle. On Friday the “Azzurri” will face Costa Rica.

    Make us dream again, guys!
  • Tourism

    Don’t Worry, Be Happy...in Italy!

    Many college students, especially nowadays, have the chance to travel and experience studying abroad through several exchange programs organized and supported by numerous academic and cultural institutions.

    On June 10th, at the Italian Academy of the Columbia University, the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) organized “The Importance of The Grand Tour of Italy for College Students,” an event which had an enormous participation of the audience, amongst which als representatives of the most important Italian and Italian American Institutions of New York: Lucia Pasqualini, Deputy Consul at the Consulate General of Italy in New York, Claudio Bozzo, President of the Italy America Chamber of Commerce, Berardo Paradiso, President of The IACE (Italian American Committee on Education) and Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo’ NYU, just to name a few.

    After a lovely “aperitivo” in a perfectly Italian style, the event opened with the performance of a young talented Italian musician, Erene Mastrangeli who with her incredible voice transported the guests back to their college years with beautiful pieces of  music.

    In thanking Erene for her fantastic performance, Eugenio Magnani, the Director of The Italian National Tourist Board presented the projects which have been developed in order to attract young people to travel to Italy because “the travelers of today are the travelers of tomorrow,” said Magnani.

    These projects for youth tourism in Italy consists in particular of new students exchanges, visits intended also to experience the Expo Milano 2015 whichis to begin in May of next year and will last until October, as well as other initiatives toward the promotion of Italy for college students.

    “The most incredible ingredient to make a trip successful is happiness,” affirmed Magnani. “We hope that young people are looking for experiences that will bring them happiness, something that Italy is able to give.”

    Magnani also used this occasion to say “arrivederci” (goodbye) to a special person: Lucia Pasqualini, Deputy Consul of Italy whose NYC  mandate has come to an end. And he did it with a very touching video which put together many pictures of the Deputy Consul during her experience and work in the Big Apple.

    “I am deeply moved,” said Pasqualini while thanking everyone for this pleasant surprise. “This moment in particular with you also brings me also to my memories and the wonderful time I spent not only in Germany (she was there as an exchange student) but to all the moments spent in different countries all around the world.”

    “If you really want to understand a country, you have to travel” concluded the Deputy Consul of Italy “because it is extremely important, especially for young people who live in a globalized world, to learn the culture, the history and the language of the country they visit.”

    Then, Magnani welcomed Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo’ NYU, who talked from a more insider point of view as a representative of a major institution, which promotes and spreads Italian culture and language within and beyond the campus of New York University.

    Albertini talked about the importance of the exchange programs to the students’ academic career and the key role of the institutions to promote Italy to the future generations.

    There are 120 exchange programs in Italy, 40 of them in Florence, aimed at bringing students into the country. This means that an enormous number of American students goes to Italy every year for extended periods of time. And this is a life changing experience for all of them.”

    “Moreover, our students are also tourists and they want to see places in Italy, travel around and they also ask to be part of cultural programs when they go to Italy. They want to have cultural experiences like going to the opera, to a museum, to a good restaurant.”

    Because of this thin line that exists between students and tourists, Albertini said that the academic Institutions want to find answers and discover more and more why students want to go to Italy.

    “We want to get from students the reasons why they decide to go to Italy. Our idea was to create a website in which students will have the chance to answer some questions we prepared for them,” affirmed Albertini.

    The project, that will be launched in a week or two, is called “Dream It! Win a Trip to Italy!” and was created in collaboration with Blend Communications. On this website, as explained by Albertini, students and people between 18 and 25, will have the possibility, for two months, to answer 10 simple questions and also submit an entry which could be either a short video or a photograph of something which is linked to their experience in Italy or which makes them connect it to the image of Italy before they go abroad. Then people can vote and the winner will win a trip to Italy.

    “This project,” concluded Albertini, “is a way of promoting Italy for the future generations through language, images and the desires of young people of going to Italy.”

    After more interesting insights about this project, given by Francesco Brazzini, the event concluded with a wondeful performance by Maestro Alberto Veronesi, Music Director of the Opera Orchestra of New York and the Soprano Maria Carfora, who at the end was given the award for her operatic musical career together with other two artists who unfortunately could not be present at the event: Tenor Nicola Pisaniello and Orchestra Director Salvatore Percacciolo.

    After the performance, all the guests were pampered with great Italian food and wine. Just a little tasting of Italian delicacies, because they all should crave going to Italy for more! 

  • Facts & Stories

    Don’t Fake It!

    Italian Lifestyle is still considered synonymous of style, quality and, to use one word, excellence. Indeed, despite the economic crisis affecting the country, if you ask someone what is the “Mecca” of good taste, with no doubt he or she will answer: Italy.
    In other words, everything that has to do with Italy is appreciated all around the world and people consider Italian products among the very best in terms of quality. It is because of this, that throughout the years, there has been an increase of businesses thriving on falsification of  “Made in Italy” products. 

    Taking advantage of the uniqueness of Italy’s reputation, especially when it comes to gastronomy, many foreign producers fake their products using names, labels or pictures that induce the consumer to think these products are Italian.
    And this “little trick” generates huge amounts of profits which of course negatively affects also the Italian market abroad.

    At Zio Ristorante, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Professionisti Italiani a New York City, in collaboration with De Cecco Usa, organized an interesting panel discussion with Marco De Ceglie, CEO at De Cecco USA, Leonardo Auricchio, CEO at Barabino & Partners USA and Dino Borri, Manager at Eataly USA, who shared their perspectives on the “Italian Sounding” phenomenon, analyzing the risks and the opportunities from the point of view of the Stakeholders involved in the chain of value of the authentic Italian quality food.

    “Tonight I want to be very provocative, because if we don’t discuss the subject properly, we won’t find answers for this phenomenon,” said Marco De Ceglie, CEO at De Cecco USA. 

    De Ceglie focused on the quality of Italian products versus the quality of non Italian products. The main difference is the link to the territory. US producers, said De Ceglie, can use the exact same raw materials they found in their country, the same manufacturing processes, but they still won’t have the quality of the Italian products since what makes Italian products so unique is the link to a specific geographical area which cannot be reproduced.

    “As Italians addressing the problem of the Italian Sounding products in the US we have to think about what is the real quality of these products. If we talk about a decent quality of a product made in the US, as Italians, we have to demonstrate that our product is better, that we use better raw materials and better manufacturing processes, otherwise there is no reason to stay in the market.”

    “We have to sustain our premium through our quality, we have to win the consumers with a superior product and communicate with the consumer and convincing him that the characteristics of the product that they appreciate are found only in Italian products,” concluded De Ceglie.

    In addressing the topic, Leonardo Auricchio, CEO at Barabino and Partners USA, shared his personal experience as a member of a family which owned a business (Auricchio Cheeses) in Italy and then, one of the members who moved away from the business, launched a similar business in the USA (Belgioioso Cheeses).

    “I think what my uncle did, rather than a threat it has been an opportunity to promote the Italian food culture all over the US,” affirmed Auricchio.

    “Fighting the Italian Sounding phenomenon as a fraud is a key issue. But instead of complaining about it or trying to stop things that are unstoppable - it’s a free market, we have to be realistic, we can’t put barriers, more regulations etc…-, we should understand that now there is a huge opportunity for the Made in Italy and we should take advantage of this moment knowing that the consumer is willing to spend more for Italian products. People recognize the premium quality and because of this, we should put our forces together and support the superior quality of the Made in Italy products,” he concluded.

    Dino Borri, Manager at Eataly originally introduced his speech saying that he “agreed, but he disagreed.”

    “I agree that there are some products that can only be produced in Italy. Not because Italians invented them (pasta came from Asia for instance) but because in the past we found the right place to produce them,” affirmed Borri.

    “Our industry is the best in the world,” he continued, “but it is our lifestyle. The world wants to eat, dress and have our house furniture. That is our gold. However, we don’t have the structure to come together and promote it. Eataly, as a worldwide food distributor, is trying to do this. To bring together producers and promote the right food.”

    And about the Italian sounding phenomenon, he said that we must educate people as to what is Italian and non Italian food, something that Eataly is trying to do.

    “In the US, concluded Borri, “there are a lot of good products, the problem arises when some producers use fake Italian labels just to achieve a higher the price. We have to teach people about the origin of the food. The customer has the right to know what and from whom they are buying.”

    After the discussion, the guests enjoyed a delicious "Pasta al Ragu" offered by De Cecco USA.
  • Art & Culture

    The Pleasure of Learning Italian

    In collaboration with The John D. Calandra American Institute of Queens College (CUNY), The Italian Cultural Institute of New York organized a very interesting panel discussion specifically aimed towards teachers of Italian as a foreign language.

    Introduced by Anthony Julian Tamburri, Dean of The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute , Professor of Italian & Italian/American Studies, Paolo Balboni, Italian professor and Director of the ITALS Center at the Cà Foscari University of Venice presented the topic to the many guests who attended the event.

    With the help of a very detailed power point presentation, Professor Balboni introduced the topic, pertaining to the neurolinguistic field, from the teacher’s perspective of how to approach students who are learning Italian and which is the best learning method.

    “All human beings are genetically programmed to acquire a language. As a metter of fact, acquisition is spontaneous, learning is rational,” said Professor Balboni.

    He also explained that a language you learn in the first three years of life is a mother tongue and you can’t forget it, “you may be just out of training.”

    In addition, as the Professor said during the panel discussion, the neurons we have in our brain create a database to store information, so for teachers who are helping a student to acquire Italian (store words, grammar, speech acts, cultural models into their brains and minds), knowing how the brain and the mind work in terms of learning a language becomes something really important if they want a positive outcome within the learning process.

    Another very important thing while acquiring a foreign language is motivation. Professor Balboni explained that the the hardware and the software of our brain need power in order to work properly. And this power is in fact motivation. Teachers must motivate students who learn a language.

    “If we are happy, not stressed, not afraid, we produce serotonin, which contributes to our well being. And if we feel good, we learn. If we are afraid or anxious we create the so-called stress hormone and we won’t learn well,” said Professor Balboni. “A happy class is motivated to learn, an unhappy class is not.”

    In conclusion, he explained that if we are motivated to learn, what we learn becomes a pleasure. So why teach Italian? 

    “Italian is a luxury,” affirmed Professor Balboni, “Italy is considered a place where you find pleasure. Because of the quality of life, the art, the culture and the food. So, when we teach Italian, we have to keep in mind that we are giving words to re-find pleasure, to give pleasure.”
  • Facts & Stories

    Expo Milano 2015: Perspectives from the Inside and the Outside.

    On June 2nd, during the celebration of the National Italian Day, a special presentation of Expo Milano 2015 was held at the Consulate General of Italy in New York. The presentation took place at the same time in 123 Embassies, 48 Consulates General and 9 Permanent Delegations all around the world.

    Special guest at the Italian Consulate on Park Avenue was Michele Valensise, Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Among the speakers Eugenio Magnani, Director of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT), and Piero Galli, Event Management General Director of the Milan Expo 2015, who talked about the Expo 2015 event delivering to the guests by using graphic presentations and videos, some interesting and new insights into the next World Fair to take place in Milan in 2015. They presented a highlight of the 60 pavilions which will be built for the Expo, including the Italian one, and introducing the  “Expo-pass,” a savings card that will allow visitors to benefit from special discounst on events and other services being offered during the 6 month period of Expo Milano 2015.

    “We thought that building up this plan and program to attract our former Italians to Milano Expo 2015 by creating actually three different ways of experiencing Italy,” said Piero Galli in the interview with i-Italy after the presentation of Expo Milano 2015 to the guests at the Consulate.

    “The first one is to host those former Italians within Expo in a specific way: discounting the admission price to the Expo, dedicating experiences just for them in our exposition track and itineraries. The second one,” he continued, “is to create facilitations all across the journey. The trip can be organized with specific conditions, prices or services. We have been lining up several partners around that, and they have already been declaring they will participate in this initiative. The third is the honoring of our former Italians coming back to Italy in ways that are something that you can’t buy….but it will be a surprise and we will be disclosing every single initiative during the next months,” he concluded.

    Another special guest who attended and spoke at the event was Fred Plotkin, America’s foremost expert on Italian culture, especially food, wine and opera. Plotikin shared his view and extensive knowledge about the benefits of the experience of visiting a World Fair such as Expo Milano 2015.

    “Many of us remember the World Fair that took place 50 years ago here. And if you, like me, went into the Italian pavilion at the World Fair, your life was changed. We saw Italian beauty, creativity, intelligence and talent. I discovered food there, I discovered visual arts there,” said Plotkin recalling his first visit to a World Fair together with his father when he was a teenager.

    As for the Expo that will take place in Milan in 2015, Plotkin gave us some very interesting insights people usually never think about: “I was looking at the logo for the Milan expo, which is called foody but if you know Italian art history, one of the greatest painters of all times was called Arcimboldo who created art from food, from vegetables, from grain, from fish and created these amazing portraits in great details,” told Plotkin.

    “So in this particular case, foody, is the face of Italy, he is the face of the Milan Expo 2015, because Italy is a combination of all different foods. And each food has a history, a culture, a season. And Italians, more than anyone else, understand what’s behind the food.”

    Moreover, he recalled the myth of Leonardo Da Vinci and spoke of Milan, a city that he loved: “To me Milan is fascinating because for 25 years it was the home of Leonardo Da Vinci who created what we call ‘urbanistica,’ which is not simply city planning but of a greater whole. It is the understanding that everything connects,” said Plotkin.

    “And,” he concluded, “Milan is the living laboratory of Leonardo Da Vinci’s genius. So it doesn’t surprise me that for the 21st century at the Expo in Milan there will be these futuristic buildings that combine the intelligence of ‘urbanistica’ with the progressive view of what the world can become. I look forward to the Expo because it is about the great potential of human genius as taught to us by the world and especially by the Italians.”
  • Style: Articles

    Designing Speed: Golden Compass for The Ferrari F12berlinetta

    Close your eyes and imagine something flaming red. Now add some yellow in... and a black horse... Get the picture? The image you have surely arrived at is an Italian icon, the legendary and inimitable Ferrari, the automotive house which is the very best of Made in Italy and all around the world in producing luxurious sporting cars.

    Since its birth, in 1939, Ferrari has been the most influent brand in its sector and not only made history because of its successes in the F1 races, but especially for its exclusive designs, which make the Ferrari cars to be the undisputed jewels within the global automotive industry.

    Among the unique models that marked history of Ferrari we recall the mythical Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari 250 GT Coupè, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and Ferrari 250 GTO.

    In 2012 another gem was produced by the automotive house of Maranello: the Ferrari F12berlinetta, its design has just been awarded the Golden Compass (“Compasso D’Oro”), one of the oldest and most prestigious international design awards.

    The compasso d’Oro ADI award, was set-up in 1954 by Gio Ponti, and with time it has become the most important award in the field of design  in Europe.

    Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s Senior Vice President of Design, received this important accolade on behalf of Ferrari in the Officine Ansaldo exhibition hall in Milan.

    Manzoni replaced Donato Coco back in January 12, 2010 as the Ferrari design director. The first series production under his leadership was the Ferrari FF. At the Paris Motorshow he presented the 2010 Ferrari SA Aperta roadster. In 2012, at the Geneva Motorshow he introduced the Ferrari F12berlinetta, a successor to the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, and the very first Ferrari produced by Ferrari Centro Stile in collaboration with Pininfarina. In 2013, together with the Centro Stile of the Maranello Ferrari Design he designs an heir of Ferrari Enzo: LaFerrari. He is also responsible for the re-design of the aerodynamic Ferrari 458 Special. In 2011, Flavio Manzoni was inducted into the Hall of Fame of car design at the National Automobile Museum in Turin, Italy. 

    Yet again, Manzoni  representing a company whose incessant technological research and its universally-acclaimed aesthetic excellence made the history of the automotive industry, steps on the pdium to receive a unique distincion inthefieldof design. 

    According to the Association for Industrial Design (ADI), the F12berlinetta was awarded the prize “for its flowing, dynamic forms that use innovative aerodynamic solutions in a true marriage of technology and aesthetics.”

    Designed by Ferrari’s Styling Centre in collaboration with Pininfarina, the F12berlinetta is the most powerful (740 hp), high-performance Ferrari road car ever built and epitomises the perfect balance between maximum aerodynamic efficiency and the elegant proportions typical of Ferrari’s front-engined V12 cars.

    Our sincere congratulations to Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari and yet another Made in Italy success. 

  • Events: Reports

    The Empire State Building, Italian for a Day!

    To celebrate the The National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) mission and educational programs across the US, Mike Piazza, New York Mets player and 12-Time MLB All-Star, will light the Empire State Building in red, white and green, the colors of the Italian flag. The initiative occurs the day after the celebration of Italy’s National Day (June 2nd).

    The commencement of the ceremony will start at 11am in the lobby of the Empire State Building on 5th Avenue. After the lighting ceremony it will be possible to reach the 86th floor Observatory and take some pictures not only of the incredible views, but also pictures with the champion Mike Piazza.

    On this special occasion,which will celebrate NIAF's great accomplisments throughout its years of activity, the organization will also host a reception at the wonderful Rooftop Garden of 230 Fifth Avenue in Mahattan (6:30-9:30pm). NIAF’s leadership, including Chairman Joseph Del Raso and President John M. Viola, will join the Foundation’s regional vice presidents in New York, Nicholas R. Caiazzo and Susan Paolercio, its committee, as well as various business and community leaders.

    The evening reception is an opportunity to learn more about NIAF’s programs and events and meet its leadership team as well as network.  This year’s master of the ceremony will be Michael Gargiulo, Emmy-award winning journalist and co-anchor of NBC 4 New York’s "Today in New York.”
  • Life & People

    Welcome to the “Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club” of New York

    A great passion for soccer and a big admiration for Giuseppe Rossi is what pushed Diana Santi a few months ago to found the Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club NY.

    Huge supporter of Fiorentina, Diana met Giuseppe Rossi, better known as “Pepito” Rossi, during a private dinner organized by a friend of hers, as much of a Viola team fan as herself, who wanted to meet the soccer player. Rossi has been transferred  last year from the Villareal to the Italian society.

    “I had the opportunity to meet him here in New York and the lucky chance to interact not only with a public figure but with an ordinary guy. And it is wonderful when you become aware of the fact that some guys who are such important icons are also extremely simple guys full of values like Giuseppe,” affirms Diana recalling her first meeting with the young champion.

    Born in New Jersey, in Teaneck, to Italian parents - his father is from Fraine (Chieti), his mother from Acquaviva (Isernia) - he grows up in Clifton and soon discovers that, even if baseball was the main sport of his area, his true passion was soccer.

    At 12 years old he moves to Parma with his family and here his soccer career begins. Eyed by several talent scouts, he arrives at Fiorentina in 2013.

    Son of Italian immigrants, Pepito, tells Diana, embodies the values of sympathetic sport between different countries and different cultures. And there could not be a better city that New York to start her Fan Club.

    “The great thing about New York,” says Diana, “is that it’s a city that unites everything. Unites cultures, languages, traditions and food from all over the world. There is a lot of integration. Just as there is in soccer. And Giuseppe posseses this characteristic and people love him because he represents a bridge between different cultures. For instance, when he injured his knee for the second time he did not receive messages only from the Fiorentina fans, but from the whole world of soccer. Many fans from other teams wrote to him to give him all their support.”

    Both in Italian and English, the Fan Club Giuseppe Rossi NY is opened to the supporters of Pepito all around the world even if “you feel definitely more Italian when it comes to soccer,” jokes Diana.

    “The Fan Club is opened to everyone: Italians, Americans, Italian Americans, Fiorentina fans, Italy fans and fans of good soccer. Therefore it’s opened to everyone who appreciates a phenomenon, because when Giuseppe plays he is a phenomenon but he is able to bring a lot of humanity outside the field as well. This makes him a model for both young and older people. A wonderful model for everyone to follow,” affirms Diana.

    By subscribing (the cost is only $30) you will have access to the fan area where you can see special contents, videos, interviews and exclusive pictures of the champion. You will also have a right to the membership card, an autographed picture, a cap with the official logo of Giuseppe Rossi and, last but not least, all the accesses to the VIP areas during events, both in Italy and in the US, where Pepito Rossi will be as well.

    On the agenda, but we’ll have to wait until next year, a 3 day trip to Italy, precisely Florence, where the luckiest fans will have the opportunity to attend Pepito’s soccer games, training sessions as well as  dinners with him in exclusive restaurants of the Tuscan capital.

    “Giuseppe supports us a lot. He really liked the idea of the Fan Club and the possibility to have direct contact with his fans,” affirms Diana, also thanked personally by Pepito on his Facebook page for having created the fan club and given his supporters the chance to follow him in Italy and in the US.

    The “Giostra dei Goal,” a tv program about soccer which airs on Rai Italia, wanted to give recognition to the just born Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club NY.

    “It was a wonderful experience and opportunity to talk to all the Italians who live abroad about our Fan Club,” tells Diana, “and this has generated so much traffic of Facebook, Twitter and on the page of the Fan Club since the media attention that this guy has among the fans of good soccer is incredible.”

    And it is exactly the good soccer that the Fan Club Giuseppe Rossi NY wants to promote. The soccer that unites and not drives people apart, because, as Diana mentions referring to an episode which occurred during the final of the Italian Cup Fiorentina-Napoli in which a Napoli fan was seriously injured, “soccer is not violence. Soccer is brotherhood.”

    And Giuseppe Rossi represents the values of good soccer. Of a sport intended to promote determination, passion and most of all union. Values that we hope will be promoted also during the World Cup in Brazil.

    And we hope as well, to see the name of Pepito Rossi on the final list of the Italian players called for the World Cup by Cesare Prandelli which isto be released on June 3rd.

    “If he goes, I am sure Italy will arrive at the final but most of all Giuseppe deserves it, because despite his injuries, he really worked hard to get better and be able to go to the World Cup in Brazil which has always been his dream,” affirms Diana.

    And on the occasion of the debut of the Italian National team in Brazil, also the Fan Cub Guseppe Rossi NY webpage will color itself blue to wish luck to Pepito and all his teammates.

  • Fatti e Storie

    Benvenuti nel 'Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club' di New York

    Una grande passione per il calcio e una grande ammirazione per Giuseppe Rossi. Questo è quello che ha spinto Diana Santi pochi mesi fa a fondare il Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club New York.

    Tifosissima della Fiorentina, Diana ha icontrato Giuseppe Rossi, o meglio lo ha conosciuto come Pepito Rossi, durante una cena privata organizzata da un amico, altrettanto tifoso della squadra Viola, che ci teneva molto a conoscere il calciatore, passato un anno fa dal Villareal alla societa’ Italiana.

    “Ho avuto l’opportunità di conoscerlo proprio qui a New York e la fortuna di interagire non solo con un personaggio pubblico ma anche con una persona qualunque.

    Ed è stupendo quando ti rendi conto che alcuni ragazzi che sono delle icone così importanti  per altri, sono anche delle persone estremamente semplici e piene  di valori come Giuseppe,” afferma Diana ricordando il suo primo incontro con il giovane campione.

    Nato in New Jersey a Teaneck da genitori Italiani -  il papà è originario di Fraine (Chieti), la mamma di Acquaviva (Isernia) -
    cresce a Clifton e  scopre presto, nonostante la predominanza del baseball dalle sue parti, il calcio.

    La famiglia si traferisce a Parma quando ha 12 anni  e qui Giuseppe Rossi comincia la sua carriera calcistica. Viene adocchiato dai talent scout e approda alla Fiorentina nel 2013.

    Figlio di immigrati Italiani, Pepito, spiega Diana, incarna i valori dello sport solidale fra paesi diversi e culture diverse. E non poteva esserci città migliore di New York per dar vita al suo Fan Club.

    “La cosa fantastica di New York,” racconta Diana, “ è che è una metropoli che unisce in tutto. Tiene insieme culture, linguaggi, tradizioni e cibi da tutto il mondo. C’è molta integrazione. E'  così anche nel calcio. E Giuseppe ha proprio questa caratteristica. La gente lo ama per questo suo rappresentare un ponte fra culture diverse.

    "Per esempio," continua Diana, "quando si è infortunato al ginocchio per la seconda volta non ricevava messaggi scritti per tirarlo su di morale solo dai tifosi della Fiorentina. Tutto il mondo del calcio scriveva. Tanti tifosi di altre squadre gli mandavano messaggi per far sentire il loro supporto. E questo è un altro dei motivi che mi hanno spinta ad aprire questo Fan Club."

    In lingua sia italiana che inglese, il Fan Club Giuseppe Rossi NY,  è per i sostenitori di Pepito in giro per il mondo anche se “sul calcio ti senti più Italiano,” scherza Diana.

    “Il Fan Club è aperto a tutti: Italiani, Americani, Italo Americani, tifosi della Fiorentina, dell’Italia, del bel calcio. Insomma, è per tutti coloro che apprezzano un fenomeno. Perchè Giuseppe quando gioca è un fenomeno che però sa dare umanità anche fuori dal campo. Quindi un esempio per giovani ed anziani. Un esempio bello da seguire per tutti,” ci dice Diana.

    Iscrivendosi (il costo e’ di soli $30) si ha accesso alla fan area dove è possibile vedere contenuti speciali, video, interviste e foto esclusive del campione. Si ha inoltre diritto alla membership card, la foto autografata, un cappellino con il logo ufficiale di Giuseppe Rossi e, dulcis in fundo, si hanno tutti gli accessi VIP per quel che riguarda eventi, sia in Italia che in America, in cui sara’ presente Pepito in persona.

    In programma anche -  ma bisognerà aspettare l’anno prossimo -  un viaggio di 3 giorni in Italia, precisamente a Firenze. I più fortunati avranno la possibilità di assistere alle partite e agli allenamenti di Pepito, partecipare anche a  cene con lui in esclusivi ristoranti del capoluogo toscano.

    “Giuseppe è molto contento. Gli piace l’idea del fan club e della possibilità di avere contatto con i fan,” afferma Diana, ringraziata personalmente anche da Pepito nella sua pagina Facebook per aver creato il fan club e aver dato così la possibilità ai suoi tifosi di seguirlo sia in Italia che in America.

    Anche la Giostra dei Goal, la trasmissione calcistica domenicale in onda su Rai Italia, ha voluto dare spazio al neonato Giuseppe Rossi Fan Club NY.

    “E' stata una bellissima occasione per parlare a tutti gli Italiani residenti all’estero del nostro Fan Club,” racconta Diana, “e questo ha generato un traffico incredibile su Facebook, su Twitter e sulla pagina del Fan Club perchè l’attenzione mediatica che questo ragazzo riscontra tra tutti i tifosi del bel calcio è incredibile.”

    Ed è proprio il bel calcio che Il Fan CLub Giuseppe Rossi NY vuole promuovere. Il calcio che unisce e non quello che allontana perchè, come ricorda Diana, facendo riferimento ad un episodio avvenuto durante la finale di Coppa Italia Fiorentina-Napoli in cui un tifoso del Napoli è stato ferito gravemente, “Il calcio non è solo violenza. Il calcio è fratellanza.”

    E Giuseppe Rossi rappresenta i valori del bel calcio. Dello sport inteso come determinazione, passione e soprattutto unione. Valori che tutti ci auguriamo siano promossi anche durante i Mondiali in Brasile.

    E ci auguriamo ovviamente anche di vedere il nome di Pepito Rossi nella lista definitiva dei giocatori convocati ai Mondiali da Cesare Prandelli che sarà resa nota il prossimo 3 giugno.

    “Se ci va, sono sicura che l’Italia arriva alla finale...  e poi Giuseppe se lo merita perchè, nonostante gli infortuni subiti,  ha lavorato tantissimo per recuperare e poter essere in grado di affrontare il Mondiale che è sempre stato il suo sogno,” afferma Diana.

    E proprio in occasione dell’esordio della Nazionale Italiana in Brasile, anche la pagina del Fan Club Giuseppe Rossi NY si tingerà di azzurro per dare il proprio “In bocca al lupo” a Pepito e a tutti i suoi compagni di squadra.

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