UNICO National Announces 2009 Award Winners

FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- UNICO National, the largest Italian
American Service Organization in the United States, is pleased to announce its
2009 Award recipients. The Awardees will be honored at the 87th Annual UNICO
National Convention in Lake Las Vegas, NV this July.

Americanism Award:

Grand Order Filippo Mazzei Grand Patriot Award

Alan Krutchkoff, Fairlawn, NJ

Founder of the Adopt a Soldier Platoon

Cianci Humanitarian Award:

Dr. Joseph Scelsa, New York, NY

Dr. Scelsa is the Founding President and CEO of the Italian American Museum in
New York City's Little Italy.

Mille Grazie Award:

Joseph Maselli, New Orleans, LA

The prestigious Mille Grazie Award literally means "a thousand thanks" and is
given in appreciation to individuals, institutions or companies that have been
instrumental in helping to foster the image of Italian Americans through
positive programs, as well as confronting the negative, and have shown
themselves to be friends of the Italian American community.

Antonio R. Rizzuto Award:

A.J. "Buddy" Fortunato, Little Falls, NJ

Publisher of the Italian Tribune Newspaper, a weekly publication since 1933
that covers everything Italian.

Dr. Anthony P. Vastola Award:

Paul Alongi, Bloomfield, NJ

UNICO's highest award bestowed upon a member of UNICO will be awarded this
year to Paul Alongi, who served as the National President of UNICO in 1975 and
has been a member of the Bloomfield, NJ Chapter of UNICO for over 50 years.
Mr. Alongi has continued to serve the national organization in numerous
positions throughout his tenure.

Athletic Awards:

Vincent T. Lombardi Professional Athletics Memorial Award:

Vince Ferragamo, formerly of the LA Rams

Dr. D.M. Nigro Amateur Athletics Memorial Award:

Joe Hathaway of Yale University, Football

Additionally, the UNICO Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, at its Board of
Trustees meeting, provided funding through its Mental Health Program to the
following:

-- Johns Hopkins University Alzheimer's Disease Research. A pilot
project involving genomic analysis in specific regions of the brain in
Alzheimer's disease.
-- Pathways to Independence, Inc. for the support of an employment
program.

-- Vantage Healthcare Systems, a life enrichment and achievement program.

Always prepared to step in and provide assistance in a time of need, UNICO
Foundation is accepting donations to aid the L'aquila Italy earthquake
victims.

UNICO, which means unique or one-of-a-kind in Italian, was founded in
Waterbury, CT by Dr. Vastola in 1922. Members work to support charitable,
educational, scientific and literary projects while promoting Italian heritage
and combating negative stereotyping.

For further information, contact Development Executive Barbara Peirano at
1-800-877-1492 or via e-mail at development@unico.org. For additional
information, visit our website at http://www.unico.org.

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SOURCE UNICO National

Barbara Peirano, Development Executive of UNICO, +1-800-877-1492,
development@unico.org