The Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C. has announced that it has selected Louis T. Donatelli to receive the 2022 Lido Civic Club Man of the Year Award. This award will be presented at the annual Lido Civic Club Past Presidents Night Gala on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at the Hilton McLean, Tysons Corner. “We are delighted that on this, the 93rd Anniversary of the founding of the Lido Civic Club, we are honoring an outstanding American of Italian descent who has been a dynamic business leader and has served his community via local charitable and industry organizations,” said Richard DiPippo, President of the Lido Civic Club.
Mr. Donatelli started his professional career in the stock brokerage and investment banking business. In 1973, Lou turned his focus to real estate, having formed Donatelli & Klein, Inc. and First Potomac to invest in and develop real estate. Donatelli & Klein, Inc., now trading as Donatelli Development, is a privately owned fee-for-service real estate development corporation. The firm has successfully developed office buildings, apartment communities, shopping centers, industrial properties and residential subdivisions in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Over the last 20 years, the company has delivered more than 2,500 housing units and 110,000 square feet of retail space. All of the company’s projects have been constructed on under-utilized or vacant land, revitalizing neighborhoods and bringing needed housing and retailers to historically under-served communities. The majority of the developments include a significant number of affordable housing units mixed with market rate units.Mr. Donatelli is a lifelong Washingtonian, a proud husband of 62 years to Ann, a father to 4 children and a grandfather to 11. Lou is a proud Italian American and has made considerable contributions, both civically and professionally, to the community. In 2013, Lou was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Italian American Foundation for Contributions in Business. He is an alumnus of Villanova University where for 9 years he served on its Board of Trustees, was a member of the Executive Committee and received the President’s Medal.
Mr. Donatelli served on the Boards of Directors of Gonzaga College High School, The United Service Organization (USO), The Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. and the Yellow Ribbon Fund. Additionally, he is a member of The Sovereign Military Order of The Knights of Malta and is affiliated with Associated Catholic Charities, which benefits needy children and families in the Washington area. In 2009, he received the Catholic Business Man of the Year Award.
The Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C. was founded in 1929 by a group businessmen and professionals to assist new members of the Italian American community assimilate into the civic activities of the community, support worthy civic activities and patriotic causes, honor outstanding Italian Americans, and celebrate their mutual Italian heritage and culture. Over the years, the Lido Civic Club has awarded more than $1,000,000 in college scholarships to Italian American college students and has promoted the Italian language and culture. For additional information, visit the Lido Civic Club www.lidoclub.org
