Angelo Cassaro (left), president of the Italian American Club of Southern Nevada, awards Basil Russo with a Lifetime Honorary Membership.
In September, Angelo Cassaro, president of the Italian American Club of Southern Nevada, presented Basil Russo with a Lifetime Honorary Membership for his efforts to promote national unity among Italian Americans.
Russo, president of ISDA and COPOMIAO, encouraged club members to preserve and celebrate their heritage by passing it on to younger generations.
The Italian American Club in Las Vegas was established in 1960, famously raffling off a Cadillac convertible donated by Frank Sinatra to raise funds to acquire the property.
Now in its 64th year, the club has a rich history that includes every Italian American entertainer who has performed in Vegas. Its walls are adorned with hundreds of photos of entertainers and celebrities who have visited, each with a captivating story attached.
Russo was invited as the guest speaker at the dinner for the club’s 450 members, where Cassaro introduced him as the most important Italian American leader in the country today.
Russo praised Cassaro for his outstanding leadership in guiding the club’s exceptional growth in membership and influence. The club features a restaurant, nightclub, ballroom, bocce courts, and outdoor party center.
Russo emphasized that every Italian American visiting Las Vegas should stop by, as the club also serves as a magnificent museum chronicling the history of the Italian American entertainment industry.
Russo’s talk was enthusiastically received by the overflow crowd, who resonated with his inspiring message. He highlighted how multiple generations of Italian Americans overcame a century of prejudice, bias and hardships to establish their place in American society — a journey sparked by the first Columbus Day celebration in 1892, which set the stage for their assimilation.
Read on: Columbus Day Was Intended to Encourage Greater Acceptance of Immigrants in America
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