United Italian American Inc. Scholarship Fund

Three decades ago, a small group of Rhode Islanders joined forces “to highlight and give visibility to Italian-American men and women who had been successful in their professional careers,” explains Dr. Anthony Leone, a former president of the United Italian-Americans (UNITAM). The nonprofit organization also promoted Italian-American culture and awarded annual scholarships.

In its early days, UNITAM was loosely affiliated with the National Italian American Foundation, based in Washington, DC. Dr. Leone proudly remembers when the Foundation honored Claiborne Pell, and he and others were invited to a reception at the White House hosted by Rosalynn Carter.

Of UNITAM’s focus on scholarships, Dr. Leone, retired associate commissioner of the Board of Governors for Higher Education, says, “We need to think about and help the next generation. Educational assistance…it has to happen.” For many years, the group held an annual golf tournament, the proceeds of which allowed them “to honor the best of the best for their academic achievements.

“It’s really an investment. If a scholarship can help a student fulfill his or her potential, that’s a great thing,” Dr. Leone continues, recalling a previous recipient, one of five children whose father was disabled, and whose mother worked a blue collar job. Valedictorian of her high school class, she later became a doctor.

Interest in UNITAM has waned in recent years, “as people went off doing different things,” Dr. Leone concedes. The remaining members of the group – including its current president, Vincent Vespia, chief of police in South Kingstown; Richard Colardo, chair of the annual golf tournament and a retired business executive; and Dr. Phil Zarlengo, retired associate commissioner of elementarysecondary education in Rhode Island – considered how best to distribute the inactive organization’s assets.

“We couldn’t do our founders and our donors any better service than to put the money into The Rhode Island Foundation,” Dr. Leone says of the decision to establish this scholarship fund “for Rhode Island residents with financial need who wish to attend a two- or four-year college or university…based on merit as evidenced by superior achievement and leadership in school and/or community.”

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