Greeting customers with a smile and handing out event information at the main booth during last June’s Italian American Heritage Festival are, from left, CIAO Delco board director Tracy Price-Lochetto; CIAO Delco board member Rose Juliano Patton; and volunteers Tiziana Murray and Lauren Abercrombie. This year’s Italian American Heritage Festival is slated for Sunday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence Township. (PEG DEGRASSA – DAILY TIMES)
UPPER PROVIDENCE — The historic Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence Township will again become a sea of green-white-red and red-white-blue, as flags of both Italy and the United States flutter in the wind, welcoming thousands of people to the free 13th Annual Italian American Heritage Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4.
The cultural celebration of family, friends, food and fun, will again this year feature Italian food galore; Italian personalities; authors and artists; an Italian car and motorcycle show; a large variety of vendors; displays of interest; the Kid’s Field of Fun; a bocce tournament; Italian music and continuous professional entertainment, with something for every age and interest.
Musical headliners in 2023 include the Smooth Sounds of Steve Silicato; Donna Marie Campbell; and The Chosen Few featuring Greg Martiello and Tony Rostelli.
Actress Mary Lou Koch and Italian radio personality Melissa Cannavo will emcee the event.
Each year, the festival, like a gastronomic tour through Italy, features cannoli, ravioli, gnocchi, gelato, pizza, pasta, fettuccine and espresso.
The Italian American Heritage Festival is planned and hosted by the Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County, CIAO.
CIAO Delco is made up of eight Italian American groups that are dedicated to promoting the vitality and longevity of Italian American culture.
They are L’Associazione Regionale Abruzzese (ARA) Delco, the Delaware County Justinian Society, Associazione Abruzzese of the Delaware Valley, the Saint Anthony diPadova Society, Societa Da Vinci, Sons & Daughters of Italy, Christopher Columbus Memorial Association and Filitalia Delco.
All proceeds from the festival will benefit local charities including The Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence; HEADstrong Foundation; Cooley’s Anemia; Italian studies and nursing programs at local universities; the Delaware County Law Enforcement Memorial and the Delaware County Fallen Firefighter and EMS Memorial, both situated in Rose Tree Park.
The rain date is Sunday, June 11. Rose Tree Park has plenty of free on-site parking.
Limited opportunities for sponsors and vendors are still available. For more information, visit http://www.ciaodelco.org.
The Foundation For Delaware County awards more than $2.2 million
In its fifth major round of grantmaking, The Foundation for Delaware County announced more than $1.65 million in new grants will be awarded to 52 area nonprofits; eight second-year awards, totaling more than $182,000; and 10 third-year grants, totaling more than $371,000, will be awarded.
That comes to a total of more than $2.2 million invested in nonprofits serving Delaware County.
Grants were awarded in the following categories:
• Children’s Health and Well-Being: $1.09 million
• Community and Economic Development: $95,000
• Community Mental Health Services: $53,500
• Food Security: $287,000
• Hospice and Home Care: $105,000
• Services for Cancer Survivors: $30,000
• Second-Year Payments to 2022 Impact Grantees: $182,932
• Third-Year Payments to 2021 Impact Grantees $371,445
“We are thrilled to award more than $1.6M in new Impact Grants to 52 organizations providing critical services in Delaware County,” said Frances Sheehan, foundation president, in a statement. “They will address some of Delaware County’s most critical issues, including mental health challenges, education, food security, and support for seniors.”
Sheehan went on to stress that “We are deeply committed to being a resource for our local nonprofit community now and long-term.”
A complete list of grants awarded can be found at http://delcofoundation.org.
To learn more about supporting these and other nonprofits in the community by donating to an existing fund or to find out information about starting a charitable fund, contact Monika Collins at mcollins@delcofoundation.org.
Some of the local nonprofit organizations helped by the grants include Chester Charter Scholars Academy, Riddle Hospital prenatal care program, Young Men and Women in Charge Foundation, Teacher’s Teammates, the Chester Pike Corridor Improvement Project, the Darby Free Library, the Women’s Resource Center, Murphy’s Giving Market and the Share Food Program.
The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest philanthropy in Delaware County.
One of 780 community foundations across the U.S., the foundation offers support and resources for nonprofits of every size, helps generous people give with more impact, brings together funders, nonprofits, and elected officials to address critical community problems, and responds to major challenges and crises as they arise.
In addition to grant funding, the foundation operates the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community through training workshops and peer learning opportunities.
The foundation encourages philanthropy by connecting donors to worthy causes through efficient charitable giving vehicles like donor-advised and scholarship funds.
The foundation operates Healthy Start, the WIC nutrition program, and Nurse-Family Partnership. In addition to the Housing Opportunities Program for Equity, other programs include El Centro (a Hispanic resource center) and a health resource center for students in the Chester Upland School District. To learn more, visit the website.
Strike up the band at Saturday’s flea market
The Upper Darby High School Band will hold a spring craft fair and flea narket, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at the high school, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Upper Darby, to benefit the band.
For vendor information call 215-834-2157.
Neumann launches Certificate in Forensic Accounting
Neumann University has launched a graduate certificate in accounting, designed to teach the key principles of forensic accounting and fraud detection. Neumann’s 12-credit program can be completed in one year and is offered fully online.
Forensic accounting provides training in recognizing occupational fraud, white-collar crime, and financial statement misrepresentation.
It prepares students to identify and investigate insurance fraud, identity theft, securities fraud, patent infringements, employee theft and embezzlement, and other crimes.
Tasked with conducting examinations into the finances of an individual or business, forensic accountants are employed in a variety of important industries, such as insurance, banking, law enforcement, information technology, health care and government.
Neumann’s program provides students with the skills to enter the forensic field in accounting fraud deterrence and prevention.
“Students will develop core competencies in successful strategies and tactics that can be used in a criminal evidence portfolio,” explains Dr. Janet Massey, director of the university’s accounting program. “They will understand the tools and red flags used in investigation and detection of fraud.”
According to Bettsy McKlaine, director of degree completion and graduate admissions at Neumann, “There is a verified need in the Delaware Valley for professionals with forensic accounting skills. Our certificate program offers credentials that are in demand in a convenient online format.”
After completing the certificate program, students can apply earned credits to pursue their education in forensic accounting or cybersecurity and work toward earning a master’s degree at Neumann in accounting with emphasis in fraud and forensics or with an emphasis on cybersecurity.
Students who complete the master’s program will have the 150 credits that are required to take the CPA examination. Many students also pursue the Certified Fraud Examiners exam (CFE), administered by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
For more information, visit http://www.neumann.edu.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
Credit:Source link
