Filitalia International, a nonprofit volunteer organization founded in 1987 by Dr. Pasquale Nestico, is proud to announce the election of Saverio Nestico as its 7th President during the bi-annual convention held on April 30th, 2023. Nestico was unanimously elected to this position, succeeding Paula Bonavitacola, who served as the 6th President of Filitalia International for four years.

Nestico is no stranger to Filitalia International, having served as the Vice President of the organization for the last four years. In addition, he has also served as the President of the largest Chapter of Filitalia, the Southeast Philadelphia, PA COSMI Chapter, where under his leadership, the Chapter grew from 25 members to 170 members in just two years.

In his acceptance speech, Nestico emphasized the importance of the organization's mission, saying "the message is clear; STEP UP! Because it isn't going to happen unless we promote, preserve and protect the language and culture."

As an international organization, Filitalia International is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting the Italian language and culture while providing service to others. The organization's mission is to educate the public about the richness of Italian culture and to strengthen the bonds between Italian-Americans and the larger community. Under Bonavitacola's leadership, Filitalia International made significant strides in
advancing its mission, and Nestico is committed to building on that progress. The organization's motto, "Umilta, Giustizia & Onesta" (Humility, Justice & Honesty), serves as a guiding principle for all members, and Nestico is eager to continue living up to that standard.

Filitalia International offers a range of programs and services to its members, including language classes, scholarships, international exchange and a variety of cultural activities. Members can also stay connected through the organization's website and social media platforms.

"We are excited to continue offering our members new and innovative ways to engage with Italian culture and language," said Nestico. "With our language classes, scholarships, and other programs, we are committed to providing our members with the resources they need to connect with their heritage."

Do you want to “step up”? If so, get involved and for more information on Filitalia International and its programs, please visit the organization's website at www.filitaliainternational.org or follow them on social media.