Literature and Language Program



The Italian American Cultural Foundation was awarded a $2,000 grant by NIAF for their Italian Literature & Language Program



2006-2007 Essay Award Recipients

IACF awarded $17,400.00 in 2007 to eight high schools and three colleges who participate in our program and has placed $25,000.00 worth of literature in participating schools.

Students compete for monetary education awards by choosing a book from the collection provided by IACF and submitting an essay detailing how this book has influenced the student’s perspective of Italian American culture.  Essays are judged by a committee of academicians independent of the Foundation.


Essay Criteria


* Students of participating high schools are to be of Italian descent.
* Students of participating colleges need not be of Italian descent.
* Participating students are to select and read a text from the book
collection which has been donated to each school library.
* Students are to prepare an essay two to four pages in length.
Essays are to be submitted no later than the first week of March of each
year.
* The essay is to include how the text influenced the student's
perspective on his/her Italian heritage and how the student's knowledge of
Italian American culture was broadened.
* Essays are judged by a Committee of Academicians, independent of the
Foundation, for originality of content, style and evidence of increased
awareness of their Italian heritage.
* Senior essay winners are published in a literary magazine.

Essay Awards


Participating Colleges and Universities:

Students read a selection from our list and write an essay. the Readers
Committee determines the best from all entries.

* First Place..........................................$1,000.
* Second Place......................................$ 500.
* Third Place..........................................$ 300.

Total Awards per College: $1,800.

Honorable Mention recipients are awarded $100.
All other qualifying entries are awarded $25.


Participating High Schools:

Students read a selection from our list and write an essay. The Readers
Committee determines the three best from senior students; and the best essay
from the sophomore and junior entrants.


* Graduating Senior - First Place........................$ 500.
* Graduating Senior - Second Place....................$ 300.
* Graduating Senior - Third Place........................$ 200.
* Junior - First Place..........................................$ 300.
* Sophomore - First Place..................................$ 200.

Total Awards per High School: $1,500.

Honorable Mention recipients are awarded $100.
All other qualifying entries are awarded a certificate of participation of
$25.


Contributing Organizations To the Literature and Language Program


Americans of Italian Heritage
Italian-American Club of Solon
Sante Catholic Union
Southwest Italian-American Club
Wickliffe Italian-American Club


I.A.C.F. Donated Library Collection


Anita, Anita
By: Dorothy Bryant
-----
The Appassionata Doctrines
By: David Citino
-----
Astoria
By: Robert Viscusi
-----
Benedetta in Guysterland
By: Glose Rimanelli
-----
The Birds of Pompeii
By: John Ciardi
-----
The Brotherhood of the Grape
By: John Fante
-----
Che Bella Figura!
By: Gloria Nardini
-----
Christ in Concrete
By: Pietro DiDonato
-----
Christ Stopped at Eboli
By: Carlo Levi
-----
Coming to Fabirizzi
By: Raymond DeCapite
-----
Dagoes Read
By: Fred Gardaphe
-----
Don’t Tell Mama
By: Regina Barreca
-----
The Dream Book
By: Helen Barolino
-----
Fools Die
By: Mario Puzo
-----
For Instance
By: John Ciardi

-----
The Fortunate Pilgrim
By: Mario Puzo
-----
From the Margin
By: Anthony J. Tamburri, Pado A. Giordano & Fred Gardaphe
-----
The Gift of Fire
By: David Citino
-----
Growing Up Italian
By: Linda Brandi Cateura
-----
In the Garden of Papa Santuzzi
By: Tony Ardizzone
-----
The Italians
By: Luigi Barzini
-----
Italian-American Folklore
By: Malpezzi-Clements
-----
Italian Americans in the Professions
By: Remigio U. Pane
-----
Italian Americans in Transition
By: J. Scelsa, S. LaGumina & L. Tomasi
-----
Italian American Radicalism
By: Rudolf Vecoli
-----
Italian Americans: The Search for a Usable Past
By: Richard N. Juliani & Phillip V. Cannistraro
-----
The Italian Americans Through the Generation
By: Rocco Caparale
-----
Italian and Irish in America
By: Francis X. Femminella
-----
Italian Immigrants in Rural & Small Town America
By: Rudolph Vecoli
-----
La Merica
By: Michael LaSorte
-----

La Storia
By: Jerry Mangione & Ben Morreale
-----
Last Rites
By: David Citino
-----
Leaving Little Italy
By: Fred L. Gardaphe
-----
The Melting Pot and Beyond: Italian Americans in the Year 2000
By: Jerome Krase & William Egelmand
-----
Mount Allegro
By: Jerre Mangione
-----
Moustache Pete is Dead
By: Fred Gardaphe
-----
Mrs. Giardino
By: D. Bryant
-----
The Patch Boys
By: Jay Parini
-----
Power and Class
By: Francis X. Femminella
-----
Primo Vino
By: Rose Basle Green
-----
Riding the Mast Where it Swings
By:  Anne Paolucci
-----
The Right Thing To Do
By: Josephine Hendin
-----
Selected Poems 1958-1980
By: Gilbert Sorrentino
-----
The Sicilian
By: Mario Puzo
-----
The Stone Carvers
By: Marjorie Hunt
-----

Street Boys
By: Lorenzo Carcaterra
-----
Support & Struggle
By: L. Tropere, J. Miller & C. Repetti
-----
The Terranovas
By: Valentine Cardinale
-----
Umbertina
By: Helen Barolini
-----
Under the Southern Sun
By: Paul Paolicelli
-----
The Urban Experience of the Italian Americans
By: Richard N. Juliani
-----
Valentina and the Great Italians
By: Anthony Valerio
-----
Venetian Red
By: P. M. Pasinetti
-----
Wait Until Spring Bandini
By: John Fante
-----
Were You Always an Italian?
By: Maria Laurino
-----
West of Rome
By: John Fante
-----
Where I Come From
By: Maria M. Gillan
-----
White Noise
By: Don DeLillo
-----
The Wine of Youth
By: Pietro DiDonato

_____



Western Reserve Historical Society



The Italian American Cultural Foundation (IACF) contributes to the funding
of a curator for the Italian Archives that relates the history and
achievements of Italian Americans in Cleveland.

"The Italian American History Collection was established in 2006 through the
generosity of the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation, the Italian
American Cultural Foundation, and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America.
It preserves and documents the heritage of Italian Americans and their
families, organizations, and businesses in Northeast Ohio. The program
shares its collections with the public in the WRHS Archives-Library, by
organizing exhibits at various venues, and through programming and
publications."