Latest Unico Stories

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) Dr. DeFelice, an accomplished researcher, physician, author and...

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 of Mr. Ralph Torraco who provided a special endowment to the UNICO...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 develop the Heart-Lung Machine, which allowed surgeons to break the last barrier that remained - the ability to operate on the heart, both...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 with the very beautiful aria from Puccini's Turandot - "Nessun Dorma." He received multiple standing ovations from the...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 for bottom-feeder networks like MTV and VH1," said Andre' DiMino, UNICO's Chief Media Executive and...

NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- 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." DiMino continued, "When we first heard about this marketing event only recently, we went into action, using our resolve to challenge an event whose purpose was to mock the...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 fictional Vito Scaletta, the son of Sicilian immigrants. As the game progresses, Vito joins a crime family and becomes a "made man." The game...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 President Andre' DiMino announced. The mural of the Italian flag was painted over the garage door of the shore house, with a centered overlay of an outline of the State of New Jersey. The removal occurs after talks...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 disparage Italian Americans. "While encouraged by recent discussions with MTV executives and after viewing the...

FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- 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," which stereotyped and degraded Italian Americans. "If MTV continues to degrade and stereotype Italian Americans, then we'll fight back," DiMino said, noting that UNICO, the nation's largest Italian American service organization, received thousands of calls, letters and emails of support, and...