BY: Adal Hussain, Chief Editor for World Liberty TV, @ 45th St & 5th Ave NYC, Mon Oct 14th 2024
COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION Announces 2024 Columbus Day Parade Line-Up and Performers for World’s Largest Celebration of Italian American Culture.
Michael T. Strianese, former CEO, L3 Technologies, Inc., serves as Grand Marshal of the 80th Annual Columbus Day Parade and Will Lead the Line of March with over 100 Marching Groups including Musical Bands, Italian American Cultural Institutions and Colorful Floats.
On Monday, October 14th, the 80th Annual Columbus Day Parade will be held in New York City.
The Parade celebrates Italian American heritage, culture and achievements and is the largest celebration of Italian heritage in the world.
Grand Marshal Michael T. Strianese lead the Parade Up Fifth Avenue from 47th to 72nd Streets from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Parade Honorees Vivian Cardia and Carmine Di Sibio joined him at the front of the Parade.
Columbus Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the celebration of Italian heritage and the creation of opportunities for younger Italian Americans, organizes the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City.
The 80th Columbus Day Parade is broadcast live on ABC Channel 7 (12:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET). Viewers can also stream the special live at abc7ny.com, the abc7NY App and abc7NY connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.
ABC reporters Sandra Bookman, Mike Marza, and Lauren Glassberg (along with ABC7 reporter Joelle Garguilo, and actor and radio host Joe Piscopo will host the broadcast, serving as Masters of Ceremonies for the largest Italian heritage celebration held in the United States.
Giada Valenti will introduce the musical performances on the red-carpet stage. Viewers on Fifth Avenue and watching on WABC-TV can expect to see a wide variety of marching groups, parade floats, vehicles, and marching bands.
Christopher Loiacono, President of Columbus Citizens Foundation, said of this year’s event: “We hope that New Yorkers of all backgrounds will join us in celebrating Italian American culture and our community’s many accomplishments.
All of our honorees are known for their generous philanthropic activity, especially to expand educational opportunities to underserved students.
We are celebrating that the Columbus Citizens Foundation has given $40 million in scholarships over the past forty years to help Italian American students complete their education dreams.
And while celebrating our achievements, we recognize the courage and accomplishments of all immigrant communities that make our city, state and country great.”
The Parade was established to celebrate Italian Americans in the United States. Columbus as a great explorer was one example of Italian accomplishment that also exemplified the immigrants’ crossing to a new life.
Before the Parade a breakfast took place sponsored by: The Lt. Det Joseph Petrosino Association in America, Italian American Museum (AIM), Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, (OSDIA), and Italian American action committee (IAAC).
The following were honored: The Vallone family, Peter Sr, Charles and Paul (Posthumously), Peter Jr, spoke about his family very happy to accept the ward, and went on to stay they lost their brother Paul very early, and thanked the organizers for honoring him and his family members.
Lou Bernardi, Founder Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island and also founder of Valor Sports. Congress Member Jerry Nadler, Congress Member Tom Suozzi, Marianne Bortone Prince, Garibaldi Meucci Museum, Co-Chair and Commissioner.
Other Honorees included: Michael Polo, National President OSDIA, Anthony Iuliano, deputy commissioner of operations of the mayor’s Community Affairs Unit and John F. Cavelli , NAF executive Vice president of public Affairs.
About Columbus Citizens Foundation: Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian American heritage and achievement.
The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through its scholarship programs.
The Foundation organizes New York City’s annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York’s Fifth Avenue since 1929.
See more about 80th Annual Columbus day parade, in our World Liberty TV, Political channels by clicking here.
