October marked a milestone for the Italian Cultural Center with the Lifetime membership of John and Lisa Nicotra. What John and Lisa did not know at the time is that they are the first of what the ICC hopes will be a growing roster of Lifetime members acknowledging the importance of the mission of the ICC, a volunteer-run, independently-funded, non-profit organization.   

What inspired their decision? John’s pride in his Italian heritage was a big influence. In his own words, “I am proud of the many contributions that Italians have made to the world. I am also particularly proud of the many sacrifices and contributions that Italians (particularly the poor immigrants from the southern part of Italy and Sicily during the last century) have made to build this great country." John also appreciates programming at the ICC that links to Italian cultural heritage. In his words, again, “I applaud the idea of an organization that looks to move beyond the old stereotypes to celebrate the achievements of Italy and her sons and daughters throughout the world.” As he looks to future ICC offerings, he notes “I also look forward to taking language classes to improve my developing language skills and participate in activities.  

Lisa Nicotra has long been an admirer of Italian culture, including its contributions to art, food and wine. John and Lisa are thrilled to be our inaugural Lifetime members.  They encourage any potential Lifetime members to join them at this level of support, remarking “We hope this will serve as a catalyst for others to commit to the idea.”