Boys’ Towns of Italy
celebrated its’ 65th annual
“Ball of the Year” at the
Pierre Hotel, in NYC. That
the ball has lasted for 65
years is as much a testament
to the importance of the
charity’s work as to how
fabulous the party is. This
year was no different.
Guests showed up ready to
have a good time. Spring was
definitely in the air. Even
the grand ballroom felt like
an arbor as it was decked
with hundreds of cherry
blossom branches.
This year’s honorees were
Lainie Kazan who called
herself an “honorary
Italian” as she was accepted
her “Entertainer of the
Year” award. She later
wowed the crowd with a
performance reminding
everyone she is as much a
Broadway star as she is a
comedienne.
Francesca Gumina Braschi,
another of the evening’s
honorees, was there with
friends and family, many who
had traveled from Italy for
the occasion. Lee
Rizzuto, Jr. was also
honored - his family is
a long-standing supporter of
the organization. Anthony
Maltese, the last to
receive his award, received
the most thunderous round of
applause of the evening, led
by his adoring wife
Cynthia.
Other guests in attendance
included Carmen
Dell’Orefice, Mark Simone
the evening’s MC,
Rita Cosby, Matilda Cuomo,
Marty Richards, Francine
LeFrak and Rick Friedberg,
Baroness Von Langendorff,
Lucia Hwong Gordon, Colleen
and Gary Rein, Frank and
Michele Rella, Kristin
Krusen, Catherine Saxton,
Marcia Levine, Paola and
Arnie Rosenshein, Larry
Kaiser, Lauren Roberts,
Cheri Kaufman, Jan
Chipman, Jo Hallingby
and Grace Iannuzzi.