International Bellisario Award

The Marisa Bellisario award, modeled in memory of Marisa Bellisario’s achievements in leadership is sponsored by Confindustria of Italy. Confindustria is comprised over 300 Italian companies (equivalent to the Fortune 500 in the U.S.A.).

Dr. Maria Lombardo, former NIAF Education Director was the recipient of the highest award given to women in Italy, The Marisa Bellisario Mela d’Oro, for her work in promoting the Italian culture in the United States. She accepted the award at Confindustria Auditorium in Rome, Italy, on May 5, 2001. Past recipients of the coveted award were Marina Berlusconi, daughter of the newly elected Prime Minister of Italy; Nobel Prize Winner, San Suu Kyl a prominent Human Rights Activist and Democratic Leader in Burma, and other women in finance, arts and other fields.

The Marisa Bellisario award, presented in memory of Marisa Bellisario’s achievements in leadership is sponsored by Confindustria of Italy. Confindustria is comprised over 300 Italian companies (equivalent to the Fortune 500 in the U.S.A.). The award is administered by the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, a professional society founded by Lella Golfo and legislated on June 11, 1996 by the Italian government. The award was created specifically to honor exceptional women in industry, in society and in the political arena. All the recipients have distinguished themselves in such careers as Fashion, Journalism, Entertainment, the Arts, Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications. The highest Mela d’Oro award is the International one, bestowed to women for exceptional results in the pursuit of Human Rights, Peace, Solidarity and Freedom. The award, in the form of “Golden Apple” is presented in Rome each year.