COMEDIAN/SINGER JOE PISCOPO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY RICHARD GRECO, JR. AMONG HONOREES AT ITALIAN AMERICAN
MUSEUM GALA AWARDS CEREMONY APRIL 15 AT THE PLAZA
Museum to Unveil Renderings for Proposed South Street Seaport Home
Comedian, singer and possible New Jersey gubernatorial candidate
Joe Piscopo will be honored at the fourth annual fundraising gala
for the Italian American Museum April 15 at The Plaza Hotel. The
acclaimed actor Chazz Palminteri will bestow the honor on Mr.
Piscopo.
In addition, Richard Greco, Jr., recently appointed as Assistant
Secretary of the U.S. Navy by President George W. Bush; Serphin
R. Maltese, Deputy Majority Whip of the New York State Senate;
and Louis Tallarini, General Chairman of Columbus Day Weekend
2005; will also be feted for their contributions to the Italian
American community.
“This fourth gathering of our many supporters is the most
significant, because we’re getting closer to establishing
a permanent home,” said Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, president
of the Italian American Museum. Dr. Scelsa added that as part
of the evening’s program, architect’s renderings of
the Italian American Museum’s proposed headquarters at the
South Street Seaport will be on display for all to view.
The event will be one of the final Grand Ballroom galas at The
Plaza, which is closing its doors on April 30.
The black-tie event commences with a cocktail reception at 7:00
p.m., with dinner and dancing beginning at 8:00 p.m. Singer Giada
Valenti and the Panorama orchestra will entertain. For tickets
and more information, contact Maria Fosco at 212-642-2020.
Temporarily housed at 28 West 44th St., the Italian American
Museum is dedicated to exploring the rich cultural heritage of
Italy and Italian Americans by presenting the individual and collective
struggles and achievements of Italians and their heirs to the
American way of life. The institution, which has received widespread
support from prominent Italian Americans, received its provisional
charter from the New York State Board of Regents in June 2001.
