After its success in Italy, the Festival dei 5 colori – created by Maria Teresa Carpino, president of the Pancrazio Foundation – has now made its mark in New York. The first U.S. edition drew an extraordinary turnout, filling the auditorium of the Consulate General of Italy and bringing a full day of sports activities and hands-on workshops for children and families to the heart of Central Park.
The event, hosted at the Consulate General of Italy in New York, featured opening remarks by Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele; Italy’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Maurizio Massari; ICE New York Director Erica Di Giovancarlo; and the representative of CONI in the United States, Mico Licastro.
A highlight of the day was the award presented to Lidia Bastianich, welcomed with a standing ovation for her exceptional contribution to promoting Italian culture and culinary excellence around the world. Bastianich reflected on her extraordinary career dedicated to elevating Italian cuisine in the United States. Also in attendance were two classes from the Scuola d’Italia “Guglielmo Marconi,” young ambassadors of Italian culture in New York.
The roundtable discussion, moderated by journalist and communication expert Francesca Di Matteo, featured Raffaella Cappello, international advisor for the Pancrazio Foundation and food educator in the United Kingdom; Perla Boccaccini, head of the Foundation’s Health Promotion and Life Skills Department; and Jacqueline Luna, ambassador of the Five Colors Project.
Promoted by the Pancrazio Foundation, the Festival aims to introduce children and their families to the principles of wellness, mindful eating, and the Mediterranean Diet. The “five colors” (green, red, orange, purple, and white) represent fruits and vegetables in a simple, intuitive way, turning food into a universal language of education.
“When we started, only a few schools were involved. Today there are more than seven hundred,” explained project founder Maria Teresa Carpino. “Presenting the Five Colors Festival at the Consulate of Italy, in front of a full and engaged audience, was wonderful. Seeing children and parents participating in Central Park brought the mission of our project to life. This is the first U.S. edition, and it is only the beginning of a path that will continue in the coming years both in Rome and New York, in collaboration with institutions and schools.”
The New York event blended interactive workshops, sports and recreational activities, scientific outreach, and creative labs in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and community engagement. Much credit goes to Paolo Tartamela, the Festival’s sports coordinator, supported by volunteer students from UNIS – the United Nations School – as well as to Antonio Fini, director of Fini Dance New York, who, together with American dancer Nona Chong Jimenez and Italian dancers Martina Barone and Mario Tedesco, led workshops in pizzica and hip-hop tarantella for participants of all ages.
The success of this inaugural New York edition confirms the Five Colors Festival as an innovative model of education, prevention, and cultural engagement – a bridge between Italy and the United States that speaks to children, families, and communities through universal themes: food, sports, and well-being.
After its programs at the Consulate, in Central Park, and at Eataly Flatiron, the project will travel to Washington, D.C., where it will be recognized by Ambassador Marco Peronaci. This international journey expands the project’s presence in schools with public events abroad, strengthening the Foundation’s core mission: educating children around the world to live healthy, mindful lives through the Mediterranean Diet, imagination, and universal values such as friendship, solidarity, and respect.
Supported by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – long committed to promoting Made in Italy and a food culture rooted in quality, health, and sustainability – the project combines education, creativity, and entertainment.
Through an animated series produced with Warner Bros./Discovery and a traveling educational kit, children learn about fruits and vegetables, the five senses, and the symbolic act of “giving a high five,” representing unity, sharing, and mutual respect. As part of the international tour, the “Di5 – Create Your Story” contest invites children around the world to invent a story featuring the Super Five; the winning entry will become an official episode of the animated series Di5, broadcast on Frisbee.
Results in Italy
In just four years, the project has expanded to 10 Italian regions, 90 municipalities, 200 schools, and 760 classrooms, involving more than 20,000 students in a dynamic, participatory program on nutrition education. As Pancrazio Foundation President Maria Teresa Carpino notes:
“We have built a dynamic nutrition-education program within schools that directly involves children and their families. Talking about the Mediterranean Diet is more important than ever. At a time when obesity and diet-related disorders are rising globally, bringing the principles of balanced, sustainable, and communal eating back to the center is both a cultural and public-health challenge.”
The project uses innovative, inclusive tools designed for young learners: the Di5 animated series, teacher guides, illustrated books, and hands-on activities, all supported by the work of nutritionists and educational specialists.
With an inductive, multisensory approach tailored to verbal, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles, children are encouraged to discover new foods naturally and without pressure, learning that eating well can be enjoyable, creative, and shared. The results confirm its effectiveness: an educational model that integrates health, culture, and community participation — now ready to cross borders and bring the message of the Mediterranean Diet overseas.
Recent international studies show that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is associated with a significant reduction in chronic disease risk and a 23% decrease in all-cause mortality among those who follow its principles.
Promoting this lifestyle therefore means not only teaching good nutrition but sharing a universal message of health, sustainability, and conviviality based on food quality and the joy of eating together.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was among the first to support the initiative, noting:
“Promoting Made in Italy means showcasing not just our products, but our cultural identity — built on quality, tradition, and innovation. The ‘Five Colors’ project embodies this spirit and our ability to combine education, sustainability, and international outreach.”
Italy’s Ambassador to the United States, Marco Peronaci, also emphasized the value of the initiative:
“With the ‘Five Colors’ project, we will promote the principles of the Mediterranean Diet here in the United States — a way to bring American audiences, especially the youngest, closer to our lifestyle, our culture, and the excellence of Italy’s agri-food sector.”
Opening the Festival in New York, Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele highlighted its educational role:
“Initiatives like this represent Italy and its values at their best. New York is certainly the American city most familiar with the Mediterranean Diet and Italian culinary traditions, yet the need for greater nutrition education — especially among young people — remains strong.”
Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Italy’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, centered his remarks on the cultural importance of the Mediterranean Diet and the need for international cooperation. He is working to designate November 16 as the International Day of the Mediterranean Diet.
“The Mediterranean Diet is a culture that brings together different peoples through shared values of well-being, balance, and sustainability,” he said. “Promoting it together means strengthening a universal message: eat well, live well, and protect our planet.”
ICE Director Erica Di Giovancarlo underscored the link between Made in Italy and sustainability:
“We enthusiastically embraced a project that unites sports and nutrition. Our work in the agri-food sector is to promote a Made in Italy built on quality, excellence, and sustainability.”
CONI USA representative Mico Licastro highlighted the strong synergy with the project:
“The values promoted by the Pancrazio Foundation — healthy food through the Mediterranean Diet and recreational sports activities — perfectly align with those of CONI. We joined Dr. Maria Teresa Carpino, founder and president of the Pancrazio Foundation, to ensure the success of this first U.S. edition.”
