Garibaldi-Meucci Museum to Honor Salvatore Lanzilotta and John Dabbene

On Sunday, August 28, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum will hold its 23rd Annual Fundraiser Brunch at the Stuart Thomas Manor in Farmingdale, New York. This year's honorees are Salvatore Lanzilotta and John Dabbene.

Salvatore Lanzilotta is being honored as he completes his term as State President of the Grand Lodge of New York of the Order Sons of Italy in America, to which he was elected in June 2009. Lanzilotta's distinguished service in OSIA began in 1984 when he joined as a charter member of the Donatello Lodge #2559 and became their first president. Subsequently he was elected Chairman of District 2 Presidents, served on the Grand Lodge Convention Committee, was elected Commissioner to the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, and served two terms as NYS Trustee. He later held the highest appointed position in the state, as New York State Deputy for four years, and was instrumental in starting six other lodges across New York State while serving on the State Membership Committee. He also served as the State Fundraising Chairperson for 2005-2007. He was appointed to the National Budget Committee, was Vice-Chairperson of the Quincentennial Year and served for twelve terms as a National Delegate. He has been honored by various OSIA lodges as well as the New York State Grand Lodge and, on August 28, by the Garibaldi Meucci Museum.

John Dabbene spent most of the last 30 years of his life fighting discrimination and promoting a positive image of Italian-Americans. His involvements and achievements included membership on the board of the Italian-American Legal Defense and Higher Education Fund, and the New York City Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee. He was President of the Staten Island Chapter of Arba-Sicula, representative of the New York State Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) to the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and a board member of the National Italian-American Media Foundation. He twice served as President of the Father Capodanno Lodge and was frequently a delegate to the National OSIA convention. A founding member of the New York Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), he served as president from 1993 to 1999. In August 2005, he was appointed the first President Emeritus of CSJ, and in 2009 was awarded the Bene Emeritus Award by OSIA-its highest award for servIce To the Italian-American community. His efforts touched the entire Italian-American community, but closest to his heart was the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. His appointment as Chairman and President/CEO in June 2001 began a renaissance for this small historic house. Under his direction, the museum restructured its programs, started a museum gift shop, developed traveling exhibitions, formed a Speaker's Bureau, and completed over $250,000 in restoration projects. Even though he had stepped down as President/CEO of the museum in March 2010, he remained extremely active in the museum administration until his death in October 2010.

The $65 cost of the brunch will include hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, appetizer, salad, choice from four entrees, beverage and dessert. Proceeds from the brunch go to fund the museum's cultural exhibitions and programs. The Stuart Thomas Manor is located at 2143 Boundary Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735.

For reservations or information, or to place an ad in the journal, call 718-442-1608 or e-mail info@garibaldimeuccimuseum.org. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned by the Order Sons of Italy in America.

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but the restroom is on the second floor. At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation, and by grants allocated by New York State Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo.