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FIERI Bronx Westchester is FIERI International's Founding chapter. It was created when John
Calvelli, then age 20, a student at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY, and Gina Biancardi, then 19, a
student at Lehman College in the Bronx, NY, -- met to discuss the possibility of organizing and
sponsoring events together. They recognized a tremendous need to unite young Italian-American
students and professionals beyond the confines of a college campus and give them a place to call their
own. Although other established organizations were already in existence, they all catered to an older
age group. Nowhere to be found was there an organization for Italian-American youths between the ages
of 18 and 39.
As the founding members searched for a name, the 1983 Italian Song Festival, Sanremo Festival,
named "Toto Cutugno's L'Italiano" as the number one song. In this song the word Fiero (proud) is
mentioned repeatedly with respect to the singer's pride in being Italian. Perfect. Not only was it directly to
the point but it was also a unique approach to naming an organization rather than the often-used
anagrams. Thus, the new name became Fieri, "proud," simply made plural signifying our collective pride
in our heritage, our culture, and our roots.
Through the years, Fieri Bronx Westchester grew beyond the founders' wildest dreams under the
leadership of a number of distinguished past presidents including John F. Calvelli, Graziella Piazza,
Louis Calvelli, Maria Marotta, Emma Mazzella, Anthony Monaco, and Casimirio Cibelli. Soon, requests
came for information from people across the country. In fact, the second chapter was founded at
American University in Washington DC by Lisa Guelli. This expansion was followed almost immediately
with the formation of the third chapter by Dante Naccarato in Brooklyn, NY. John Calvelli
recognized a need to take this concept national and in 1989 Fieri became Fieri National,
Inc., incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. Chapters developed in Manhattan,
Washington DC, Queens, North Jersey, South Jersey, Long Island, Staten Island,
Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. There are also new chapters developing in Detroit and
Central New Jersey. Discussions continue in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, San Diego, Stamford, Los
Angeles, and Florida. Additionally, Fieri has become an international organization, with a new chapter
launched in Toronto in January 2000.
In September of 2003, Vincent Volino, working with FIERI founder John Calvelli and FIERI Bronx
Westchester members John Cimaglia and Tony Desio, devised a plan aimed at keeping FIERI's founding
chapter strong so that it could continue its efforts as a new generation of FIERI members became
involved. Today, with an awareness of our past and a clear understanding of our mission, we at FIERI
Bronx Westchester are determined to keep our chapter fulfilling its objectives. We are FIERI's founding
chapter and we intend to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of FIERI International for
many years to come.
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