Scholarships, charities help local Italian-Americans improve image

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.

What the public knows about Italian-American business leaders sometimes comes from sources such as the television show "The Sopranos," about a fictitious New Jersey mob family.

The Las Vegas chapter of the Augustus Society has made it its mission to change that image, whether by helping ailing senior citizens pay utility bills and rent or by providing the area's brightest Italian-American students with thousands of dollars in college scholarship money.

"One of our written statements is to increase community awareness and present a positive image of Italian-Americans," said Angelo Cassaro, chairman of the Augustus Society's scholarship program and a local plumber. "We have to continually strive to overcome the stereotype -- there isn't a member who hasn't been asked if someone in our family is a member of the Mafia."

The Augustus Society, founded in 1983, has in the past 18 years awarded $550,000 in scholarships to local Italian-American students whose families in many cases could not otherwise afford to send them to college. Recently, at its annual dinner, the Augustus Society awarded $40,000 in scholarships to 20 area students.

"We are very proud of these young people because the lowest grade point average among them was 3.7 and many had 4.0 GPAs," Cassaro said. "It is not difficult for us to find bright students who also are involved in many community activities."

The Augustus Society, which this year has achieved its highest membership at 98, also gives to numerous charities, including local hospices, Catholic Charities and individuals who suffer hardships.

Recently the nonprofit organization gave $1,000 to 11-year-old Dani Carideo, who through the Eisenhower People-to-People program will represent Las Vegas in Australia and New Zealand, where she will discuss what it is like to be an Italian-American.

The Augusutus Society also hosts the annual Columbus Day Ball and selects the Las Vegas Italian-American of the year. Last year District Judge Joseph Bonaventure received that honor.

Here are the students who received $2,000 scholarships this year and the college they will attend:

UNLV: Gina Bongiovi, Rachel Cali, Lisa Comastro, Dana DiPalma, Michael Miceli, Patrick Miceli, Nicole Penkalski, Sara Perone, Jeff Perrone, Holly Rupp, Lisa Sacco, Mary Spagmole, Vallory Tramonte II, Toni Westbrook and Holli Zinna.

Community College of Southern Nevada: Charlotte Courson and Kathy Ivanov.

Other: Marisa Marconi, who will attend Columbia University); Joseph Sandino, who will attend Loyola Marymount University; and Jamie Ware, who is headed to Arizona State University.

To join the Augustus Society, would-be members must provide proof they are an Italian-American and pay annual membership dues of $1,000. Contact Membership Chairman Bob Mangino at 254-3572 for more details.