Surrounded by a crowd of financiers, entrepreneurs and longtime benefactors, the Valtarese Foundation celebrated its 35th anniversary by awarding college scholarships to 16 Italian-American high school seniors with family ties to Borgo Val di Taro in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy.
The foundation, rooted in the Italian immigrant story, has spent decades helping younger generations embrace both opportunity and heritage. At the anniversary ceremony, held in New York, founder Gianfranco “Frank” Capitelli introduced each student by name, emphasizing the importance of identity and solidarity.
“I entrust you with the future of this foundation,” Capitelli told the recipients. “Stay united, support one another, and never lose sight of who you are.”
Among those in attendance was Marco Moglia, the mayor of Borgo Val di Taro, who underscored the emotional connection linking the diaspora to its homeland. “Never forget your origins,” he said. “Italian blood runs through your veins.”
Since its founding, the Valtarese Foundation has pursued a dual mission: fostering community ties abroad while directly supporting institutions back home. Over the past 35 years, donors have helped equip Santa Maria Hospital in Borgotaro with advanced medical technology. And since 2007, the organization has awarded nearly 200 scholarships to students of Italian descent, both in the United States and in Italy.
This year’s ceremony also honored two individuals for their contributions to Valtarese culture and continuity. Emilia-Romagna regional councilor Matteo Daffadà was recognized for promoting the community’s values and visibility worldwide. Cardiothoracic surgeon William Alex Jakobleff was also honored for his mentorship and dedication to passing on his professional and cultural legacy.
“We live to learn,” Jakobleff said. “And we have a duty to share that knowledge with those who come after us.”
“Young people aren’t just the future — they’re the present,” added Daffadà. “What we need now are new generations who want to understand the world through the experiences of the Valtaresi who once left home in search of something better.”
Many of those stories are preserved in Do You Speak Pramzàn?, a recent book edited by Claudio Rinaldi, editor-in-chief of Gazzetta di Parma. The volume collects first-hand accounts from emigrants whose shared thread, Rinaldi says, is “a lasting bond with the lands and valleys they left behind.”
Among the most notable success stories is that of Mario Gabelli, the renowned investor and philanthropist, who at 82 remains one of the most influential figures in New York’s financial world. A longtime supporter of the foundation, Gabelli continues to give back to the community that shaped his early roots.
