Columbus Day festivities spared, thanks to donors
Fear not, devoted sons and daughters of Italy. The city's Columbus Day celebration has been rescued. Philadelphia's Columbus Day Committee was in a panic late last week, scrambling to come up with a budget after its annual request for a $40,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development was rejected. The committee had failed to file reports on how the last grant had been spent.
Fear not, devoted sons and daughters of Italy. The city's Columbus Day celebration has been rescued.
Philadelphia's Columbus Day Committee was in a panic late last week, scrambling to come up with a budget after its annual request for a $40,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development was rejected. The committee had failed to file reports on how the last grant had been spent.
But Greg Ciminera, executive director of the Order Sons of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, said that a group of private donors has kicked in almost $22,000 after he sent an e-mail last week saying that the 52nd annual celebration was in jeopardy of being canceled.
His group added $15,000 yesterday, just in time to save the event.
City Council President Anna Verna's office, which handles details of the event but not the fundraising, had been preparing yesterday to tell Mummers string bands scheduled to perform that the parade was off. Those calls didn't have to be made.
"It comes as huge relief in terms of that and in terms of ensuring that this tradition continues," said Kathleen Murray, a senior adviser to Verna.
Ciminera said that the committee now has almost $37,000 and hopes to pull in more donations.
The kick-off banquet, scheduled for Oct. 11, has been canceled to focus time and resources on the celebration's other events.
"We scaled back a little bit," Ciminera said.
The Sunday morning Mass and breakfast at St. Rita's, at Broad and Ellsworth streets, will still begin a packed day that includes a parade down Broad Street to Marconi Plaza in South Philly, where an Italian festival will be held.
The parade is set to begin at 12:15 p.m., starting at Broad and Ellsworth streets.
The Food & Cultural Festival, scheduled to run from noon to 6 p.m., is planned to include an Italian car show, entertainment and Italian cuisine. *
