The 4th Annual Italian Walk of Fame Gala

26 September, 2012 /
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The Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF) is an annual event that
officially launched on September 9th, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Considering that IWOF has only been around for four years, it has generated a great amount of attention in the international media.

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From the city that is home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy comes the world’s first Walk of Fame- dedicated to Italians worldwide who have distinguished themselves with their accomplishments in all fields and industries. Located in Toronto’s “Little Italy”, the one-day-only event pays tribute to the extraordinary achievements of Italians with stars placed permanently and prominently in the sidewalk on College Street.

Why We Did It..

The Italian Walk of Fame aims to contribute to the preservation and education of Italian heritage by recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Italians who have excelled within their respective fields and across a variety of industries including business, science, art, film, theatre, finance, medicine, literature, architecture, religion, and politics.

FOUNDERS

Jimi Bertucci

&

Marisa Beaco Lang

Also providing:

●A platform in which the Italian identity as well as the Italian immigrant experience can be discussed and defined.
●A place to recognize and celebrate their achievements.
●A means by which visitors and young people can learn some important facts about individuals of Italian origin in all fields of life.
●An inspiration to the younger generation for further achievement.

. The Common Spirit Award

Façade Academy was honored to be invited to attend this incredible event. What a fantastic year to be in attendance; stars Beverly D’Angelo, Joe Pantoliano, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, and Company President Carlo Baldassarra were all recipients of ‘The Common Spirit Award’.

Recognize those names? Here is where you’ve seen them:

MARIA GRAZIA CUCINOTTA receives her star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Little Italy.

Entertainment && Media

AMC Theatres Interchange was buzzing with fans of Maria Grazia Cucinotta. A day prior to the IWOF gala, Cucinotta’s iconic role as European beauty Beatrice Russo was relived during a viewing of the film “Il Postino”.

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Chin Radio fittingly had two of their TV Hosts Andrea Trentadue and Edoardo Monasterolo co-host the awards gala while singers Pierina Cincinnato, Diana Di Mauro, and Peter Marino performed for all who attended.

“NO KIDDING, ME TOO!”

A charity founded by Joe Pantoliano also known as “Joey Pants” was brought to the attention of all guests at the gala when he introduced his new novel “ASYLUM”. A portion of the profits from “ASYLUM” will be donated to No Kidding, Me Too!. No Kidding, Me Too! is a public charity, whose purpose is to remove the stigma attached to brain disease through education and the breaking down of societal barriers. The goal is to empower those with BD to admit their illness, seek treatment, and become even greater members of society. Those suffering from brain diseases including anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, pyromania, kleptomania, compulsive gambling, addictions, paranoia, multiple personality disorder, gender identity disorder, Down’s syndrome, psychosomatic disorder, traumatic brain injury, tic disorders, and others.

A COPY OF THE NOVEL AUTOGRAPHED BY JOE TO OUR ACADEMY DIRECTOR MINA