IWOF board member and gala co-chair, Sam Ciccolini (left), gets the thumbs up from fellow board member, Lenny Lombardi (center), after receiving the prestigious Ordine al Merito award. The honor was bestowed to Mr. Ciccolini for his exceptional leadership, community service, and fellowship in the community. Sam is the man behind numerous charitable causes including the Oaklands Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to improve the quality of education and development of impoverished nations, and of which he is the Founder and President. The event attracted some of the most influential Italians in the community, including co-founders of IWOF, Marisa Beaco-Lang and Jimi Bertucci, General Consul of Italy Dr. Gianni Bardini, Senator Consiglio Di Nino, Toronto Mayoral candidates Joe Pantelone and Michael Rossi, and Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Julian Fantino. Those and many others contributed to making the evening memorable and successful.