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A fund for the
Intrepid
Gargano and the
Intrepid Fund Pay Homage to Italian Heroism In Iraq
By Vincent P. Cuccia
Breaking with convention for the first time, the Intrepid
Foundation gave $10,000 to each of the families of the Italian
military personnel killed in action at Nasiriyah. As already
reported in this paper, 19 Italian paramilitary were killed by a
suicide bombing in Nasiriyah, Iraq in November. The Intrepid
Foundation’s primary purpose is to raise funds for the spouses
and children of United States and British military personnel
killed in action. However, to show support to Italy, the
Intrepid made an exception to assist Italian families so as to
show the deep friendship between Italy and America in fighting
the war on terrorism and to pay homage to the heroic sacrifices
of the Italians in Iraq.
The man behind this generosity is Ambassador Charles A. Gargano.
If the name sounds familiar, it is because he is the man who
will rebuild Ground Zero. On September 11, 2001, the World Trade
Center was destroyed by terrorist attacks, and the New York
State’s Empire State Development Corporation is responsible to
contract a firm to rebuild it; Amb. Gargano is the President and
Managing Director of the New York State’s Empire State
Development Corporation.
Amb. Gargano was born in Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi, which is in
the province of Avellino, Italy. After coming to America, he
attended NYU and graduated at the top of his class. Amb.
Gargano’s political career began in 1984, when he was elected
director of former President Ronald Reagan’s electoral campaign;
he was elected a second time for former President George Bush’s
campaign in 1988. In the same year, he was named ambassador to
the Trinidad and Tobago Republic, a position he held during
George Bush’s presidency, as well, until 1991. From 1995 until
today, Amb. Gargano has held the position of President and
Managing Director of the New York State’s Empire State
Development Corporation.
Amb. Gargano is also the Chairman of the board of the Columbus
Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day Parade the
proceeds of which fund scholarships. Amb. Gargano has always
promoted the bilateral collaboration between the United States
and Italy, with particular attention to the relationships
between American and Italian companies.
On April 29th, Amb. Gargano privately handed each of the
victim’s families $10,000 from the Intrepid Foundation. This
meeting took place in Palazzo Chigi, Rome. Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, Secretary of Defense Antonio Martino, Defense Chief
of Staff Giampaolo Di Paola, and other members of the Berlusconi
government witnessed this charity. The American delegation
included Vice President of the Intrepid Foundation Martin
Elderman, real estate developer Steven Witkoff, and Trustee of
the Intrepid Foundation Michael Stern.
Without Amb. Gargano and the donation from the Intrepid
Foundation, the Italian families of the slain victims would find
it even harder to survive. In addition to the fear and pain of
facing the future without a husband or wife or father or mother,
many of them would also have to address the questions of finding
work, where to live, how to raise their children, how to provide
for their education, and even how to put food on the table.
Amb. Gargano’s efforts have expanded the mission of the Intrepid
Foundation by providing for Italian paramilitary too. Together
they show the deep friendship between Italy and America in
fighting the war on terrorism and pay homage to the heroic
sacrifices of the Italians in Iraq.
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