The Lido Civic Club of Washington D.C. has awarded a grant of $2,225 to the Casa Italiana Language School/Ente Gestore to help support and promote the continuation of the AP Italian Language & Culture Exam.
The grant will be used by the Ente Gestore to award $89, the fee for taking the AP Italian Language exam, to each of 25 students from the Washington metropolitan area (Italian Embassy consular district). The AP Italian exam is scheduled to be administered on May 15, 2014.
In announcing the award, Francesco Isgro, President of the Lido Civic Club, said, “The Italian language is at the heart of the culture and as Italian Americans we must do our best to promote the teaching of Italian in the greater Washington area high schools, not only to ensure that our children have an opportunity to share in our cultural heritage but also to help perpetuate the language, culture and tradition of our ancestors.”
“The Lido Civic Club is committed to strengthening and expanding the teaching of the Italian language in the Washington area,” he said. Jerry Truman, chairman of the Civic Committee said that “supporting Italian language and culture is one of the Lido Civic Club’s core objectives.”
Students who intend to seek the award must register by April 15, 2014 by sending an email to entegestoredc@gmail.com indicating their name, school attending, and their intention to take the AP exam. After taking the exam, they must provide verification to Ente Gestore. Award winners will then be announced, along with the date and time of an award ceremony. The Ente Gestore will provide awards for students above the initial 25.
The Lido Civic Club of Washington D.C. was founded in 1929 by a group of Italian Americans businessmen and professionals to assist new members of the Italian American community assimilate into the civic activities of the community, to support worthy civic activities and patriotic causes, to honor outstanding Italian Americans, and to celebrate their mutual Italian heritage and culture. Over the years the Lido Civic Club has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to Italian American college students in promoting the Italian language and culture. The group has also assisted wounded service men and women, and provided healthcare assistance to those in need. For additional information, go to www.lidocivicclub.com.
Casa Italiana Language School/Ente Gestore is a non-profit organization for the purpose of promoting and expanding the knowledge of Italian language and culture in the consular district of Washington D.C. The organization receives grants from the Italian Government in support of its mission and operates in close collaboration with and under the supervision of the Education Office at the Italian Embassy.
