Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation to honor Judge Joseph Ferrino of Winthrop with “Spirit of ’76” Award
Dr. Marchi of East Boston and Winthrop “Music Matters” Founder Also to be Honored at Ceremonies set for this Saturday at Spinelli’s in East Boston
The Bay State Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge will present the prestigious “Spirit of ’76” Award for meritorious service and patriotism to Judge Joseph V. Ferrino Sr. of Winthrop, who is the founder and driving force behind the local organization. The Chapter will also present national George Washington Honor Medals to Dr. Regina Marchi of East Boston and “Music Matters” founder Kelly Russo of Winthrop during the ceremony.
The awards will be presented at the Bay State Chapter’s 36st Annual Awards Luncheon this Saturday, April 2, 2016, at 12:30 p.m., in Spinelli’s Banquet Facility, Day Square in East Boston. Tickets are $50, and can be purchased from Marisa Di Pietro at (617) 650-3442 or mdipietro@ebsoc.org or from Dottie D’Onofrio at dottiedonofrio@yahoo.com
National President of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Michael Di Yeso, will travel from Pennsylvania to present the “Spirit of ‘76” award to Judge Ferrino during the ceremony. The Judge is the founder of the Bay State Chapter and its current Executive Director and Treasurer. He is involved in numerous civic and cultural organizations, including the East Boston Kiwanis Club, the Dante Alighieri Society and the Italian-American History Month organization.
Dr. Marchi is being honored with the George Washington Honor Medal for her numerous contributions while serving the community as a mentor, teacher, journalist and speaker. She has done extensive research on the history of East Boston, which resulted in the publication in 2015 of her book Legendary Locals of East Boston. The book traces the history of East Boston back to the 1600s.
Kelly Russo of Winthrop is being honored with the George Washington Honor Medal for her instrumental work restoring music to the Winthrop Public School curriculum after it was eliminated during budget cuts. She started the effort as a 10th-grader, and the program has blossomed into the very successful “Music Matters” program.
Tickets to the Bay State Chapter awards luncheon will include a sit-down, full-menu offering at Spinelli’s.
Freedoms Foundation honors Americans who go above and beyond in their efforts to educate their communities about the values of good citizenship. The foundation has recognized several thousand dedicated individuals and organizations in its 65-year existence. Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching all citizens the principles upon which our nation was founded. The organization seeks to convey the close link between the rights and the responsibilities of citizens in a free society.
