They got your community service right here.
Bensonhurst’s Federation of Italian-American Organizations celebrated local activism during a fund-raiser gala at Mill Basin catering hall El Caribe on April 12. The organization celebrated 40 years of community service and honored folks who have contributed to their neighborhoods, the Federation’s head honcho said.
“The gala was an extraordinarily successful celebration of service to the community,” said Federation chairman Jack Spatola.
The cultural organization patted itself on the back for the social services, after-school programs, and economic development initiatives it has spearheaded, but it also recognized other community members who gave back in a big way.
Organizers honored three families for outstanding community service — sibling Broadway Stages owners Tony and Gina Argento, the Fodero family of Bay Ridge, and 13th Avenue Merchants Association co-president Domenick Sarta of Bensonhurst.
And the Federation recognized some of the city’s best and brightest, awarding scholarships to eight area high-schoolers, according to spokeswoman Sara Steninweiss. Students submitted essays outlining how their Italian heritage has shaped them, she said.
One student said the award was a welcomed addition that would help her pay for books and transportation when she begins college next year.
“I got $800 for books and supplies, which is awesome because every buck counts,” said Elisa Bono, a first-generation Italian-American and Staten Islander who plans to study psychology at St. John’s University’s Queens campus in the fall.
