Italy-USA Foundation
Encyclopedia
Italy–USA Foundation was established to promote the friendship between Italians
and Americans
plus American culture in Italy. The foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rome
, Italy
. The Embassy of the United States in Rome
officially attended the establishment of the Foundation, represented by the Minister Counselor for Public Affairs.
The foundation organizes meetings between Italian members of Parliament and US Senators and Representatives to discuss about legislation and cultural issues, also in partnership with the American Legislative Exchange Council
. The foundation cooperates with many American universities, first of all Loyola University Chicago
through the John Felice Rome Center
, for projects, conferences, staging. The scientific committee consists in more than 30 members, including some Italian scientists, politicians, diplomats, journalists, like for example Paolo Mieli
, Fiamma Nirenstein
, Aurelio De Laurentiis
, Carla Fendi
.
President is Lucio D'Ubaldo
, Vice-President is Maria Pia Garavaglia
, Secretary General is Corrado Maria Daclon
, President of Scientific Committee is Umberto Veronesi
, Vicepresident of Scientific Committee is Franco Bassanini
, Secretary of Scientific Committee is Annagrazia Calabria
.
The Italy–USA Foundation promote the America Award, a recognition under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano
. The award is mainly seen as a means to acknowledge and encourage initiatives and work aimed at favouring relationships between Italy and the United States of America. Among the winners Walter Veltroni
, Umberto Veronesi
, Ennio Morricone
, Franco Frattini, Maria Grazia Cucinotta
, Piero Fassino
, Renzo Arbore
, Renato Balestra
, Alain Elkann
, Oriana Fallaci
, Laura Biagiotti
, Mike Bongiorno
, Edward Luttwak
.
A delegation of the Foundation met on Sunday December 13, 2009, in Capanne prison on the outskirts of Perugia
, with American prisoner Amanda Knox
, then campaigned for her until the acquittal verdict. The Secretary General of the Foundation, Corrado Maria Daclon
, who became a close friend of Knox's while she was in prison, managed Knox's departure from the penitentiary of Perugia
to the airport after the acquittal, when Knox returned to her home in Seattle. Knox wrote a letter to Corrado Maria Daclon
the day after she was freed by prison, with her first words since she regaining freedom: "To hold my hand and offer support and respect throughout the obstacles and the controversy, there were Italians. There was the Italy-USA Foundation
, and many others that shared my pain and that helped me survive, with hope. I am eternally grateful for their caring hospitality and their courageous commitment. To those that wrote me, that defended me, that stood by me, that prayed for me. I am forever grateful to you. I love you."
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
plus American culture in Italy. The foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The Embassy of the United States in Rome
Embassy of the United States in Rome
The Embassy of the United States of America to the Italian Republic is the diplomatic mission of the United States to Italy. The embassy's chancery is situated in the Palazzo Margherita, Via Vittorio Veneto, Rome. The current United States Ambassador to Italy is David Thorne...
officially attended the establishment of the Foundation, represented by the Minister Counselor for Public Affairs.
The foundation organizes meetings between Italian members of Parliament and US Senators and Representatives to discuss about legislation and cultural issues, also in partnership with the American Legislative Exchange Council
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
. The foundation cooperates with many American universities, first of all Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
through the John Felice Rome Center
John Felice Rome Center
The John Felice Rome Center is a campus of Loyola University Chicago in Rome, Italy. The center was originally founded as CIVIS in January 1962, hosted on premises originally built for the Olympic Village of the 1960 Summer Olympics, and leased from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
, for projects, conferences, staging. The scientific committee consists in more than 30 members, including some Italian scientists, politicians, diplomats, journalists, like for example Paolo Mieli
Paolo Mieli
Paolo Mieli is an Italian journalist who has been director of Italy's leading newspaper, Corriere della Sera.Born in Milan, Mieli debuted as journalist at 18 for L'Espresso, where he remained for some 20 years. As a member of Potere Operaio he initially adhered to far-left positions...
, Fiamma Nirenstein
Fiamma Nirenstein
Fiamma Nirenstein is an Italian politician, journalist and author. She is a member of Silvio Berlusconi's conservative coalition government and is Vice-president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Italian Chamber of Deputies...
, Aurelio De Laurentiis
Aurelio De Laurentiis
Aurelio De Laurentiis is a prominent Italian film producer, through his company, Filmauro. He is also the current chairman of his native Italian football club Napoli....
, Carla Fendi
Fendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
.
President is Lucio D'Ubaldo
Lucio D'Ubaldo
Lucio D'Ubaldo is an Italian politician.D'Ubaldo was born in Magliano Sabina, Rieti. He earned his BA in Philosophy, he is also writer and journalist.Lucio D'Ubaldo is a member of national board of Democratic Party ....
, Vice-President is Maria Pia Garavaglia
Maria Pia Garavaglia
Maria Pia Gravaglia is an Italian politician, former Italian Minister of Health during the Carlo Azeglio Ciampi government and currently is Deputy Mayor of Rome. She was member of Democrazia Cristiana, then of Italian People's Party and Democracy is Freedom – Daisy. She was extraordinary...
, Secretary General is Corrado Maria Daclon
Corrado Maria Daclon
- Biography :He was born in Milan. Since 1995 he has been professor of environmental policy and geopolitics at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy, journalist, writer, and a collaborative editorial contributor with periodicals on international energy, environmental and geopolitical issues...
, President of Scientific Committee is Umberto Veronesi
Umberto Veronesi
Umberto Veronesi Knight Grand Cross OMRI is an Italian surgeon and oncologist, internationally known for his contributions on prevention and treatment of breast cancer throughout a career spanning over fifty years. He heads Italy's Nuclear Safety Agency.-Scientific career:Veronesi was born in Milan...
, Vicepresident of Scientific Committee is Franco Bassanini
Franco Bassanini
Franco Bassanini is an Italian politician, minister and undersecretary of state.He was a deputy from 1979 to 1996 and a senator from 1996 to 2006. He was also president of "Astrid", a think-tank specialising in the study of institutional and administrative reform...
, Secretary of Scientific Committee is Annagrazia Calabria
Annagrazia Calabria
Annagrazia Calabria is an Italian politician, member of the Italian Parliament for the People of Freedom party of Silvio Berlusconi....
.
The Italy–USA Foundation promote the America Award, a recognition under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano is an Italian politician who has been the 11th President of Italy since 2006. A long-time member of the Italian Communist Party and later the Democrats of the Left, he served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 1994 and as Minister of the Interior from 1996 to...
. The award is mainly seen as a means to acknowledge and encourage initiatives and work aimed at favouring relationships between Italy and the United States of America. Among the winners Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
, Umberto Veronesi
Umberto Veronesi
Umberto Veronesi Knight Grand Cross OMRI is an Italian surgeon and oncologist, internationally known for his contributions on prevention and treatment of breast cancer throughout a career spanning over fifty years. He heads Italy's Nuclear Safety Agency.-Scientific career:Veronesi was born in Milan...
, Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
, Franco Frattini, Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Maria Grazia Cucinotta is an Siciian/Italian actress who has featured in many films and television series since 1990, she has also worked as a producer, screenwriter and model....
, Piero Fassino
Piero Fassino
Pietro Franco "Piero" Fassino is an Italian politician with the Democratic Party, the current Mayor of Turin and a former national secretary of the Democrats of the Left party.-Biography:...
, Renzo Arbore
Renzo Arbore
Lorenzo Giovanni Arbore is an Italian TV host, showman, singer, musician, film actor and film director.-Career:...
, Renato Balestra
Renato Balestra
Renato Balestra , is an Italian fashion designer.Renato Balestra is an Italian fashion designer. However, he first started studying civil engineering....
, Alain Elkann
Alain Elkann
Alain Elkann is an Italian novelist, intellectual, and journalist. Currently, Elkann is the conductor of cultural programs on Italian television. A recurring theme in his books is the history of the Jews in Italy, their centrality to Italian history, and the relation between the Jewish faith and...
, Oriana Fallaci
Oriana Fallaci
Oriana Fallaci was an Italian journalist, author, and political interviewer. A former partisan during World War II, she had a long and successful journalistic career...
, Laura Biagiotti
Laura Biagiotti
Laura Biagiotti is an Italian high fashion designer. She studied literature in Rome, expecting to become an archeologist. Then she started to help out at Mum and Dad's dressmaking business and had her first fashion show in 1972...
, Mike Bongiorno
Mike Bongiorno
Michael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno , known as Mike Bongiorno, was an American-born Italian television host. He started his career on Italian TV in the 1950s and was considered to be the most popular host in Italy...
, Edward Luttwak
Edward Luttwak
Edward Nicolae Luttwak is an American military strategist and historian who has published works on military strategy, history and international relations.-Biography:...
.
A delegation of the Foundation met on Sunday December 13, 2009, in Capanne prison on the outskirts of Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, with American prisoner Amanda Knox
Amanda Knox
Amanda Marie Knox is an American woman who was accused of the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Umbria, Italy. She served 4 years of a 26-year sentence before the murder conviction was overturned on October 3, 2011. Raffaele Sollecito, Knox's boyfriend at the time of the murder, was also...
, then campaigned for her until the acquittal verdict. The Secretary General of the Foundation, Corrado Maria Daclon
Corrado Maria Daclon
- Biography :He was born in Milan. Since 1995 he has been professor of environmental policy and geopolitics at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy, journalist, writer, and a collaborative editorial contributor with periodicals on international energy, environmental and geopolitical issues...
, who became a close friend of Knox's while she was in prison, managed Knox's departure from the penitentiary of Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
to the airport after the acquittal, when Knox returned to her home in Seattle. Knox wrote a letter to Corrado Maria Daclon
Corrado Maria Daclon
- Biography :He was born in Milan. Since 1995 he has been professor of environmental policy and geopolitics at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy, journalist, writer, and a collaborative editorial contributor with periodicals on international energy, environmental and geopolitical issues...
the day after she was freed by prison, with her first words since she regaining freedom: "To hold my hand and offer support and respect throughout the obstacles and the controversy, there were Italians. There was the Italy-USA Foundation
Italy-USA Foundation
Italy–USA Foundation was established to promote the friendship between Italians and Americans plus American culture in Italy. The foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rome, Italy...
, and many others that shared my pain and that helped me survive, with hope. I am eternally grateful for their caring hospitality and their courageous commitment. To those that wrote me, that defended me, that stood by me, that prayed for me. I am forever grateful to you. I love you."