UNICO, which means unique or one of a kind in Italian, was founded in Waterbury, Connecticut, by Dr. Anthony P. Vastola in 1922. Members, in 131 chapters in 19 states, work to support charitable, educational, scientific and literary projects while promoting Italian heritage and combating negative stereotyping.
FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — UNICO National has announced that it will be presenting its coveted Dr. D.M. Nigro Memorial Award for Amateur Athletics to Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova's NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player of 2016 at the UNICO National Convention to be held in July in Cambridge, Maryland. The award is presented annually […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Jon S. Odorico of Madison, WI, was awarded the 2016 UNICO National Marconi Science Award and Medal by UNICO National President Ann Walko, at a gala award ceremony and dinner attended by UNICO National officers and dignitaries from across the country during UNICO's National Board of Directors meeting, […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — UNICO National, and its President Rick D'Arminio, are proud to announce and congratulate six Italian American women who made the Italian National Team in Women's Lacrosse and will be competing in the European Championships this August – Alexa Cambi (Boston University), Kerrin Maurer (Duke University), Cate Soccodato (Our Lady […]
UNICO National Decries NBC "Meet The Press" Host Chuck Todd's "Mob" Comment
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — UNICO National, the nation's largest Italian American service and charitable organization, is publicly denouncing the recent comments made by Chuck Todd, host of NBC's Meet the Press. In a recent discussion on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" cable program, Todd specifically referred to the New York 11th District Congressional race between […]
The Marconi Science Award, established in 1995, annually recognizes a living Italian American scientist who exemplifies Marconi's vast scientific and creative accomplishments FAIRFIELD, N.J., May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Salvatore DiMauro of The Bronx, New York was presented with the 2014 UNICO National Marconi Science Award and Medal by UNICO National President Michael Veselka at […]
UNICO National and Marconi University Forge International Educational and Cultural Partnership
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — UNICO National, the largest Italian American service and charitable organization in America and Marconi University, headquartered in Rome, Italy and accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, announced a strategic relationship to promote educational and study abroad opportunities and to advance their shared objectives. Under the new relationship, Marconi […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Stephen L. DeFelice of Westfield, NJ, was awarded the 2013 UNICO National Marconi Science Award by UNICO National President David Donnini at a gala award ceremony attended by UNICO National officers and dignitaries from across the country during UNICO's Board of Directors meeting in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130325/PH82207) […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — UNICO National released its Italian and Italian American Heritage Calendar for 2013. This year, this beautiful, full-color wall or desk calendar features photos of Italy from winners of the UNICO National Italy Photo Contest. Notable Italian Americans, Italians and events related to the Italian experience are featured on […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The UNICO Foundation, which is affiliated with UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, has announced the establishment of several new annual scholarships specifically for nursing students. At the UNICO National Convention held last month, UNICO Foundation President, John DiNapoli publicly announced, "Thanks to the generosity […]
UNICO National Presents 2012 Marconi Science Award and Medal to Dr. Victor F. Greco of Drums, PA
FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 16, 2012 — Dr. Victor F. Greco of Drums, PA, was awarded the 2012 UNICO National Marconi Science Award by UNICO National President Glenn Pettinato at a gala award ceremony during UNICO's Board of Directors meeting, Saturday, March 24th, 2012 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Dr. Greco, a general and thoracic surgeon, helped […]
UNICO National Presents 2011 Marconi Science Award and Medal to Astronaut Paul Richards
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 8, 2011 — Astronaut Paul W. Richards of Annapolis, MD, was awarded the 2011 UNICO National Marconi Science Award by UNICO National President Chris DiMattio at a gala award ceremony during UNICO's Board of Directors meeting, Saturday, March 26th, 2011, in Kansas City, MO. Richards, an accomplished aerospace engineer, was a crewmember […]
UNICO National Condemns Senseless Arizona Shootings
UNICO Foundation makes contribution to memorial fund set up for slain 9-year-old Italian American Christina Taylor Green FAIRFIELD, N.J., Jan. 18, 2011 — UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, has gone on record to condemn the senseless shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and others attending a public event outside a […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 22, 2010 — At a recent national meeting, UNICO National, the largest Italian American service organization in America, declared that pasta products from Campagna Brand in Italy, exclusively imported by Fancy Foods, Inc., NY, are now the "Official Pasta of UNICO National." This was the result of a year-long effort by UNICO […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 29, 2010 — At a recent UNICO National regional meeting, young Italian American tenor Christopher Macchio, a rising star in the entertainment world, gave a special, surprise guest performance of his vocal talent to UNICO National delegates and guests from across the Eastern Region. Macchio sang some classic Italian songs and ended […]
UNICO National: 'VH1's My Big Friggin' Wedding Is a Big Racist Stereotype of Italian Americans'
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 9, 2010 — Describing the show as yet another disgraceful and disheartening chapter of Executive Producer SallyAnn Salsano's malicious exploitation and stereotyping of young Italian Americans for profit, UNICO National is asking VH1 to pull the plug on "My Big Friggin' Wedding." "Stereotyping and slurring young Italian Americans means big, big bucks […]
UNICO National Announces Mille Grazie Award Winners
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Oct. 22, 2010 — UNICO National President Chris DiMattio today announced UNICO's prestigious "Mille Grazie" Award – given to those fostering a positive image of Italian Americans – will be presented to Joanne Arduino, an Artistic Director of Ballet in Scranton, PA, and Michael DiLauro, a filmmaker and director of the Academic Media […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Sept. 9, 2010 — After succeeding last year in having the State of New Jersey recognize October as Italian-American Heritage Month, UNICO National's Anti-Bias Committee has launched a petition-led campaign to designate October as National Italian and Italian-American Heritage Month at the Federal level, UNICO National President Chris DiMattio announced. "UNICO National is calling […]
Governor's budget cuts Italian commission, but leaves funding for all other ethnic commissions FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 31, 2010 — UNICO National today called upon New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to restore funding to the New Jersey Italian American Heritage Commission, which had its entire state funding eliminated in the Governor's 2011 fiscal year budget. At […]
Mafia II 'Party' Fizzles, Italian Americans Stand United
NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2010 — Claiming a clear victory in a long battle, Andre' DiMino, who is leading a coalition of groups and individuals from the Italian American community, declared, "I have no doubt our efforts resulted in the Mafia II Launch Party, at the 92nd Street Y's Tribeca Center, being a dismal failure." […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 18, 2010 — Calling it a "pile of racist nonsense" that perpetuates stereotypes of Italian Americans as violent, murderous mobsters, UNICO National's Andre' DiMino is demanding that Take Two Interactive halt the release of the "Mafia 2" videogame, planned to hit stores on August 24th. Mafia 2 portrays the life of a […]
Flag and outline of NJ used as unfortunate symbols for show FAIRFIELD, N.J., July 20, 2010 — A mural of the Italian flag, which covered part of the front of MTV's "Jersey Shore" beach house at Seaside Heights and was used to unfortunately symbolize the show which stereotyped Italian Americans, has been removed, UNICO National […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 24, 2010 — UNICO National President Andre' DiMino today reported he is "cautiously optimistic" about the potential lack of derogatory Italian American references and imagery in the upcoming second season of MTV's "Jersey Shore." However, DiMino warned that UNICO's Anti-Bias Committee would focus its efforts on several copycat "reality" TV shows which […]
Stand Up for Your Italian Heritage and Join UNICO Today!
FAIRFIELD, N.J., May 10, 2010 — UNICO National President Andre' DiMino today declared May as "Membership Month," urging Italian Americans to help defend their heritage and culture as well as reconnect with their roots by joining UNICO — the nation's largest Italian American volunteer service organization. "It is painfully apparent that our ethnicity is being […]
UNICO National Prepares for Action Opposing MTV's 'Jersey Shore' Second Season
'We're not done fighting yet,' pledges UNICO President DiMino as what he calls MTV's 'ethnic-bashing trash' sets to wash ashore at Seaside Heights this summer FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 19, 2010 — In light of announcements of a second season at Seaside Heights, UNICO National President Andre' DiMino promised a renewed battle against MTV's "Jersey Shore," […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 29, 2010 — UNICO National President Andre' DiMino has called upon William Shatner, the Canadian who rose to fame as Captain Kirk on Star Trek, to pull down an "incredibly offensive" animated cartoon Shatner has made that stereotypes Italian-Americans, called "The Gavones." A pilot for the cartoon, which is about mobsters in […]
UNICO President Andre' DiMino Asks Tonight Show Host Jay Leno to Take Stand Against 'Jersey Shore'
Letter sent to Leno, an Italian-American, questions him for featuring cast of "Jersey Shore" on his show FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 8, 2010 — UNICO National President Andre' DiMino today fired off a letter and email to returning Tonight Show host Jay Leno questioning his judgment for featuring the cast of the ethnic bashing, stereotyping show […]
UNICO National Congratulates Point Pleasant for 'Taking a Stand' Against MTV's 'Jersey Shore'
POINT PLEASANT, N.J., Feb. 18, 2010 — UNICO National President Andre' DiMino thanked and congratulated Point Pleasant elected officials for "taking a stand" against MTV's ethnic-bashing series "Jersey Shore" by approving a resolution condemning Viacom and MTV for intentional misrepresentations of the Jersey Shore and Italian Americans. The resolution "urges these corporate citizens to cease […]
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J., Jan. 21, 2010 — UNICO National is bringing its anti-bias war to the shore — to the hometown of MTV's infamous stereotyping and ethnic-bashing "reality" series "Jersey Shore!" A number of expert panelists, including UNICO National President Andre' DiMino, Italian American One Voice Chairman and Founder Dr. Manny Alfano, a number of […]
Make a statement against stereotypes and negative portrayals in the media and celebrate the richness of Italian and Italian American heritage and culture by owning one today! FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 21, 2009 — Supporters of Italian American heritage are urged to celebrate the positive accomplishments of this incredibly rich culture through the new 2010 Italian […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 17, 2009 — UNICO National's First Lady, Jenny DiMino, a UNICO member and wife of UNICO President Andre' DiMino, today wrote an open letter to Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi of "Jersey Shore" admonishing her for vulgar behavior and profane public remarks made against UNICO on TMZ, a celebrity television show. Polizzi, in a […]
McDonald's, Burger King, Papa John's Pizza, Cisco, Nivea and Palm among others named FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 11, 2009 — After enduring the second week's installment and a recap talk show of the controversial MTV series "Jersey Shore," UNICO National President Andre' DiMino is specifically targeting three high-profile companies that sponsored the program. "Why would The […]
Members of Italian American organizations to contact sponsors of MTV's "Jersey Shore" demanding withdrawal of advertising from show following Thursday's debut FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 4, 2009 — UNICO National has been joined by many Italian American organizations, including Order of the Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) – […]
UNICO Invites New Jerseyans to 'Rediscover' Italian Heritage Through Statewide Billboard Campaign
CBS Outdoor partners with UNICO in presenting dozens of billboards in statewide marketing campaign FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 25, 2009 — Thanks to a milestone partnership with CBS Outdoor, billboards inviting New Jersey residents to "rediscover their Italian heritage" and join UNICO – the nation's largest Italian-American service organization – will be placed throughout the state. […]
NJ Senate Approves Measure Designating October as 'Italian American Heritage Month'
UNICO National through its Anti-Bias Committee launched grassroots lobbying effort to support legislative vote FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 23, 2009 — UNICO National and its Anti-Bias Committee ("ABC") today thanked legislators in New Jersey for their overwhelming affirmative vote designating the month of October as "Italian American Heritage Month." Kathleen Strozza, UNICO National President, stated, "We […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., May 4, 2009 — UNICO National, the nation's largest Italian-American service non-profit organization, completed the first phase of its immediate fundraising for earthquake victims in the L'Aquila region of Italy with a $10,000 check presentation to Archbishop John J. Myers, the leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Photo: http://www.pressreleaseheadlines.com/2009-UNICO.jpg r. to […]
UNICO National Announces 2009 Award Winners
FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 20, 2009 — UNICO National, the largest Italian American Service Organization in the United States, is pleased to announce its 2009 Award recipients. The Awardees will be honored at the 87th Annual UNICO National Convention in Lake Las Vegas, NV this July. Americanism Award: Grand Order Filippo Mazzei Grand Patriot Award Alan […]
UNICO Announces Initiation of Fund to Aid Abruzzo Italy Earthquake Relief
FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 7, 2009 — UNICO has set up a Disaster Relief Fund to accept donations to help those affected by the earthquake that struck the town of L'Aquila and surrounding towns located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The earthquake hit at approximately 3:30 am with a 6.3 magnitude by the U.S. Geological […]
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Sept. 11, 2008 — UNICO National, the nation's largest Italian American service organization, unanimously passed a resolution supporting the official designation of October as "Italian and Italian American Heritage Month" at its National Convention held in San Francisco last month. UNICO National delegates from around the country unanimously approved the resolution presented by […]
