New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators

to honor prominent New Yorkers

The New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators is proud to announce this
years honorees at their annual celebration on June 9, 2014 from 11 AM 1 PM in the Well of
the Legislative Office Building at 198 State St, Albany, NY 12210. The program will begin at
12:00 PM and an opportunity for media availability at 12:30 PM. The event is free and open to
the public. This years honorees come from varied backgrounds, including politics, acting, and
music, highlighting the diversity of the Italian-American community.

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo is the 54
th
Governor of the State of New York.
Governor Cuomo was born in Queens, New York to parents of Italian descent. His
paternal grandparents were from Nocera Superiore and Tramonti in Southern Italy, and
his maternal grandparents were from Sicily. In 1993, he was appointed to the Department
of Housing and Urban Development as the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning
and Development as a member of President Bill Clintons administration. He was elected
Attorney General of the State of New York in November 2006, and in November 2010 he
was elected Governor in a landslide victory.

Tony Danza is an actor, writer, teacher, and philanthropist. Mr. Danza was born in
Brooklyn, New York; his father, whose family was from Naples, was a sanitation worker,
and his mother, an immigrant from the Sicilian province of Trapani, worked as a
bookkeeper. After graduating from Malverne High School in Malverne, NY, Mr. Danza
received a Bachelors Degree in History Education from the University of Dubuque. As
an actor, Mr. Danza is best known for starring in such beloved sitcoms as Whos the Boss
and Taxi, as well as numerous film and stage roles. He is active in many philanthropic
endeavors, including the New York City All Stars Project, Voices Against Brain Cancer,
Only Make Believe, and the New York City Police Athletic League, whose board he
recently joined. He has been honored by many organizations for his efforts, including the
AARP.

Liberty DeVitto is a Hall of Fame drummer, and lifelong New Yorker. Born in
Brooklyn, New York, Mr. DeVittos grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Naples
and Sicily. Mr. DeVitto graduated from Seaford High School in 1968. In the early
1970s, his band Topper became the band for Billy Joel, and was responsible for such
legendary songs as Scenes from an Italian Restaurant and New York State of Mind.
After playing with Billy Joel for 30 years, Mr. DeVitto is now performing with his
Brooklyn based rock band The Slim Kings and remains a band member for the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. He is also an honorary board member of Little Kids Rock,
a non-profit organization dedicated to putting instruments and music programs in
underfunded schools worldwide.

The Legislators being honored this year are State Senator George Latimer of
Westchester County, and Assemblyman Andrew Raia of Suffolk County.

The New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators is a bipartisan
conference of State Senators and Assemblymembers of Italian descent. The organizations
mission is to preserve and promote Italian culture, and highlight the contributions of Italian-
Americans to the State of New York. In addition, each year the conference presents four high
school seniors with $2000 educational scholarships.