Rick DiLiberto elected to national UNICO post

Richard A. DiLiberto Jr., the chairman of the Delaware Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture, was elected as one of 15 national UNICO trustees at July’s annual convention in New Orleans.

Rick DiLiberto is seen at the national convention with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, who won the Special Achievement Award.

DiLiberto, who will serve a three-year term as a trustee, said he is honored and excited to help steer new generations of deserving young people toward college scholarships – a mission that’s near to his heart.

“So many of our Italian-American ancestors were not able to attend college because of a lack of funds. My paternal grandparents emigrated to America from Sicily just after the turn of the century, and raised seven children, on my grandfather’s shoemaker’s income,” he said. “Neither of my parents were able to attend college. My wife and I were blessed to graduate from college and law school. Two of our daughters became lawyers and one is a teacher with a master’s degree. My grandparents could never have dreamed of these things for their progeny when they came to Ellis Island.”

The purpose of the UNICO Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation, is to receive, accept and make gifts, donations, grants, award scholarships, fellowships and the like for charitable, educational, literary and religious purposes.

Toward that end, the foundation lends financial support to cancer research, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, mental health services, and emergency food and shelter programs. UNICO also makes substantial grants to fighting a rare blood disease called Cooley’s Anemia, which occurs in a disproportionate number among children of Italian and Greek immigrants.

Maria Teresa Morrison, district governor of the UNICO Rehoboth Beach chapter who is a former trustee herself, nominated DiLiberto for the trustee role.

“As the representative of the State of Delaware on the UNICO Foundation Board of Trustees, he will definitely be an asset,” Morrison said. “Rick is both diligent and generous; a member who truly lives the goals of UNICO – “Service Above Self” – and the preservation of Italian heritage and culture.”

At the convention, Rick and UNICO National honored ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro with the Special Achievement Award, and welcomed ESPN national correspondent Sal Paolantonio, author of “Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the Philadelphia Eagles Won Their First Super Bowl Championship.”

DiLiberto is a law partner in the personal injury section of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, Wilmington, Del. For more information about UNICO and the UNICO Foundation, and how to apply for scholarships and charitable assistance, visit www.unico.org Rick is a law partner in the personal injury section of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, Wilmington, Del.

For more information about UNICO and the UNICO Foundation, and how to apply for scholarships and charitable assistance, visit www.unico.org