Italian Hospital Society Honors Klein

Jeffrey D. Klein

November 24, 2008

NEW YORK-On Sunday, November 24th at the Davenport Club in New Rochelle, Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) received the Italian Hospital Society’s annual award to persons who have helped advance the cause of Italian American culture in the region. Klein was presented the award by his colleague in government, Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

“I am honored to be recognized by one of the premier organizations dedicated to Italian heritage. America is a country of immigrants, which encourages us to remember and celebrate our heritage no matter how many generations we’ve been here. Italian Americans are the proud bearers of an illustrious tradition which has defined Western culture for centuries and it is a privilege to acknowledge the continuing significance of that tradition,” said Senator Klein.

Klein has long represented a heavily Italian American district ranging from neighborhoods in the Bronx to parts of Westchester. Since his time in the Assembly, Klein has sponsored Italian language classes, provided funding for numerous Italian American societies, and currently offers free Italian cooking classes at the Generoso Pope Foundation in Tuckahoe. Just last year, Klein was presented with the first ever Person of the Year Award by the Esperia Benevolent Society.

Last year, the award was presented to New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.