Tony Danza, among others attend the 2017 A Chance In Life gala, formerly known as Boys’ and Girls’ Towns of Italy. See the scene!
It only seemed like time stood in the way of Boys’ and Girls’ Towns of Italy being renamed A Chance In Life, as the influence of this respected organization has reached much farther than just the shores of Italy.
On April 4th, Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy held its annual New York Annual Gala at The Pierre Hotel under the auspices of A Chance In Life, still as devoted to benefitting refugee, migrant, and at-risk youth as ever. The night honored Frank Bisignano, CEO of First Data Corporation, who received the “Michelangelo D’Oro Award”. A Chance In Life has been growing rapidly, so donations are needed more than ever. With the establishment of the Boy’s & Girls’ Towns of India in 2016, it is only the beginning of a long future of development.
Bisignano made a $150,000 contribution that evening, bringing the total in donation to over $1,000,000. The Gala Chair was Contessina Francesca Braschi, and singer and winner of 2016’s Woman of the Year Award Karen King were among those serving on the Gala Dinner Committee.
The Honorary Committee consisted of The Honorable Charles E. Schumer – U.S. Senator of the State of New York, His Excellency Armando Varricchio – Ambassador of Italy to the United State of America, Francesco Genuard – Italian Consul General of NY, and Maurizio Forte – Italian Trade Commission. Special guests included Tony Danza and Soprano’s actor Vincent Pastore. It was stunning and delightful to see such a stunning commitment to these new
Boys’ & Girls’ Towns of Italy was founded in 1945 by Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing to provide in his words, “a chance in life” to vulnerable and orphaned children in post-World War II Italy. The sound nature of this mission has been replicable in three other instances, only expanding on the mission set in motion by Carroll-Abbing so many years ago.