MORE THAN MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT JUST A UNION! Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the second annual Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club’s Wall of Fame Induction Gala. As it was the case for our inaugural event last year, all the 2018 inductees played a significant role in paving the way for many aspiring players, coaches, and managers towards improving their respective skills in the “Beautiful Game”. I accepted the role of Project Manager for the construction of our clubhouse because I felt it was important to continue with and expand on our mission statement to “Teach Soccer and Build Character”. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, I am proud to be the president of a club which has evolved into a philanthropic organization which has touched the lives of children, widows and orphans, locally and across the ocean in Italy. Last year thanks to our tireless Under 17 International Youth Soccer Committee, the Azzurri donated $20,000.00 to each of two orphans of the Rigopiano Avalanche in Abruzzo. The LiUNA Families are proud to be part This year we intend to equal, if not surpass, last year’s success and donate one half of the net proceeds to Mens Sana, a well deserving Woodbridge organization devoted to helping people of the Toronto Azzurri Soccer Clu b and with mental disabilities. Our community work has also sparked the interest of Unipromos, Associazione Di Provenzione the Azzurri LiUNA Club house. Sociale from Rome, Italy which has agreed to become our partner in our House League Program. We will continue to work with our friend and partner, retired Sgt. Steven Hicks to expand on our sport and cultural programs. Congratulations to the Inductees into the Our success is made possible thanks to the participation and generosity, not only of those people attendance this evening, but of many others who continue to support our community objects… Toronto Azzurri Soccer Wall of Fame. WE ARE NOT DONE YET! Thank you, Ralph Ciccia, President 2 3 TORONTO AZZURRI50th WALL OF FAME Congratulations from TFC We would like to congratulate all inductees into the Toronto Azzurri Soccer “Wall of Fame”. Thank you for your outstanding dedication and positive impact to the game of soccer in the Italo-Canadian community. Bill Manning President, TFC 4 5 TORONTO AZZURRI50th WALL OF FAME TORONTO AZZURRI COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TORONTO AZZURRI ‘FOR KICKS’ and ARTS In 1999, thirty one years after the Club’s genesis, the NEW Toronto Azzurri was reborn. A core group of over fifty friends who had created a tight bond through soccer came together again to create a vision to build a Soccer Center of Excellence. We formed a Club Motto... WE TEACH SOCCER AND BUILD CHARACTER. On a spring evening in 2003 we met SGT. Steve Hicks of Toronto Police Services 31 Division. Steve through his own program called “FOR KICKS” introduced us to all the great work he was doing with the help of his Community Partners aimed at improving the lives of “AT RISK” youth. The Toronto Azzurri SC jumped on board and on April 29th, 2014 upon the opening of our NEW 6,000 sq. ft. Azzurri LIUNA Community Clubhouse located at 1 Carmen Principato Way at the Toronto Azzurri Youth Sport Village, our mission evolved to operate a Community Center of Excellence. We realized our benevolent purpose needed to reach far beyond just the game of soccer. We announced the TORONTO AZZURRI FOR KICKS AND ARTS would be running and sustaining sport, educational and cultural programming for our Community youth with special focus on “AT RISK” children. Here are some of the programs we are and have executed: 1) Summer Soccer Development League. 6) Regent Park School of Music (RPSM). Approx. 500 participating boys and girls, ages 4-15yrs. The RPSM agreed to expand their community 2) Asante High Performance Soccer Academy. programming to the Jane/Finch Community and Richard Asante, a former Toronto Azzurri youth player, run choir and instrumental classes at Monsenior and Syracuse graduate was TFC’s first draught pick in Fraser Vocational School. 2007 runs a REP program involving approx. 200 boys. 7) Lecture Series. We will be introducing key note 3) Summer Camps. Run together by Asante and speakers to address our community on important Toronto Azzurri, with approx. 100 children issues such as, Cyber Bullying, Social Media participating in exclusive one day and three day Responsibility, Leadership Skills and Career Building camps in Tweed Ontario. throughout the Calendar year. 8) Special Needs Soccer. We are pleased to announce The Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club in partnership with the City of Toronto has developed 4) Toronto Jets Football. This local football club works the launch in June of a Soccer League featuring our and is operating a community-based soccer and sports complex on the Keele and Steeles with approx 75 boys ages 10-17 yrs and participates in the GTFL. Community Special Needs participants. Reservoir lands to benefit youth through skills development, health, and fitness. 5) TDSB Youth’Learn to Skate’ and ‘Hockey Heroes’ Since the Azzurri LIUNA Community Clubhouse opened in 2014 and it has been a local Programs. A ‘For Kicks’ original program that reaches centre for sport, educational and cultural programming for our youth with special focus out to the community at Grandravine and York U rinks on “At Risk” children. twice a year to teach how to skate. Hockey celebrities also participate. Robert Iarusci, Chairman Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club Est. 1968 6 7 TORONTO AZZURRI50th WALL OF FAME TORONTO AZZURRI S.C. FOUNDING FATHERS TORONTO AZZURRI S.C. WALL OF FAME SELECTION COMMITTEE Mario Borsato Tony Cipriani Orazio De Ciantis Adrian DiGirolamo Fortunato Febbraro Tony Graci Gus Mandarino Robert Iarusci Orazio De Ciantis Warren Green Robert Iarusci Joe Mancuso Tony La Ferrara Tony Cipriani Pasquale Pietrantonio Ivan Perusco Pasquale Pietrantonio Nick Plessas Sandy Scamurra Carlo Del Monte Ralph Ciccia - Toronto Azzurri Youth Sport Village Project Manager TORONTO AZZURRI S.C. 2018 BOARD MEMBERS 2017 WALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Ralph Ciccia Tony Cipriani Vince Iarusci BUILDERS/PIONEERS President Treasurer Marketing/IT Director Sam Ciccolini, Johnny Lombardi, Gino Ventresca Robert Iarusci Fortunato Febbraro Pasquale Pietrantonio COACHES/MANAGERS Chariman Secretary Director at Large Carlo Del Monte, Gus Mandarino, Aldo Principe Tony Graci Orazio De Ciantis Frank Iaizzo PLAYERS Vice President Social Director Director at Large Robert Iarusci, Tony Lecce, Pasquale Pietrantonio MEDIA Tino Baxa, Paolo Canciani, Nicola Sparano 8 9 TORONTO AZZURRI50th WALL OF FAME Seafood_Depot_Half_Page_Salmon.pdf 1 2017-03-13 4:32:55 PM TED LARAIA BUILDERS/PIONEERS Born Teodorico Laraia in a small town in Molise, Italy on March 1, 1921. Ted moved his family (wife and 2 boys) to Rome after WW II for work and consequently became a passionate ROMA fan sparked by the many Roman Derby (Lazio-Rome) games he attended. Ted immigrated to Toronto arriving in the mid fifties and it a bet between the presidents Ted Laraia and Johnny didn’t take long for him to be a part of an ownership group Lombardi was made on who would win their final match to purchase the Toronto Sparta Club, which he played in in 1963. The loser would have to dribble a soccer ball the National Soccer League (NSL) at the Fred Hamilton dressed in the opponents colours for two blocks on OP_Flyer_Half_Page.pdf 1 2018-03-06 11:09:19 AM Park (Shaw Street and College Avenue). The following College Street from Grace Street to the centre of the Little year they changed the name to Toronto A.S. Roma and Italy. Johnny Lombardi wearing AS Roma strip made all moved to Stanley Park which seated 5000 people. the Toronto papers. Ted’s passion for his Roma Team saw him sourcing pro players from Argentina and Brazil. Ted was also responsible for the rise of the Roma Roma won the inaugural 1961 league Title. Over the next Supporters Club which was situated at College and 5 years, the league presented a strong soccer product Grace where players and supporters would meet. but lost money annually. As a result, Ted was forced to Simultaneously, he also organized the Roma Youth Club to fold his beloved Roma in 1967. get the local kids out and this added to the natural rivalry that fuelled the soccer interest between Toronto Italia and Ted will always be remembered as one of Toronto’s Toronto Roma. In 1961 the Eastern Canadian Professional greatest soccer pioneers. He delivered a quality Soccer League (ECPSL) was created and Toronto Roma professional product while planting the seeds for local and Toronto Italia found themselves battling against each player development. He continued to follow the game into other this time at Varsity Stadium (20,000 cap). his retirement actively corresponding with Nicola Sparano of the Correire Canadese until his passing in 2002 at the The rivalry was intense starting with their senior teams age of 81. right down to their reserve teams. It was so intense, that 10 11 TORONTO AZZURRI50th WALL OF FAME MARIO DI BARTOLOMEO Congratulations to all of the new inductees BUILDERS/PIONEERS Mario Di Bartolomeo is an astute businessman with a burning passion for to the Toronto Azzurri Wall of Fame soccer. Many claim to have served Canadian and local soccer to the level he has, but Mario stands alone in having dipped as deep into his pockets, and in providing the dedication of as much energy. Mario immigrated to Canada from his DODARO LANDSCAPING INC. native Abruzzo in 1960, and ever since he has been a builder, and owner of many 445 EDGELEY BLVD. UNIT #2, CONCORD, ON | 905.660.0849 clubs.