Report by Maria Concetta Cefalu’
Recorded by Giovanna Pia Ferrara
Written by Giovanna Pia Ferrara
On Thursday, October 3, 2024, our newspaper met in Palermo, the Italian-American entrepreneur Rosario Drago, Vice President of the Foundation “The Pizza Dance Foundation”, which is based in Deer Park in the United States of America, precisely in Suffolk County, Long Island, in the state of New York.
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The Foundation “The Pizza Dance Foundation” was founded by Tony Modica who arrived in the U.S.A. from Italy as an immigrant in the 70s. With his work, commitment and dedication he achieved success in the United States in the restaurant sector, particularly in the preparation of pizza. For Mr. Modica, pizza is an international symbol of unity because, thanks to its various toppings and its beauty, it is appreciated by all cultures and is certainly the most popular food in the world. Thus the means that has allowed us to live decently and economically well, for Mr. Modica has become a tool to encourage disadvantaged people, support them, help them and offer them a better future. Therefore, the “Pizza Dance Foundation” project has become for Mr. Modica a means to thank and give back to the American community through a charity program for the elderly and young people, promote unity and cultural appreciation with free public activities. The goal is to recover learning and motivation to study for children in educational poverty and at risk of dropping out of school. Among the many activities carried out by the “The Pizza Dance Foundation” , there is the collaboration with schools, where after school hours, students and adults are offered pizza and a lesson on how to prepare pizza. In addition, children in difficult economic conditions are donated money to buy musical instruments or any other needs. The projects carried out by the “Pizza Dance Foundation” include: singing, dancing and pizza, to give a wonderful experience to all those who participate, because pizza is the favorite food of both adults and children. The foundation deals with: collecting clothes and food, providing meals and clothes to families in need; providing educational, recreational and scholastic support; offering music and dance lessons; organizing socio-cultural events for the community, where pizza is the protagonist, and its preparation together with cultural festivals, create unity and shared experiences. Who doesn’t like pizza?