Italy–USA Foundation

The Italy–USA Foundation, known in Italian as Fondazione Italia USA, is a Rome-based non-profit and non-partisan organization focused on strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between Italy and the United States. Its work combines cultural diplomacy, education, public discussion, political exchange and recognition of individuals whose activities have contributed to closer transatlantic relations. The foundation also presents American culture in Italy and acts as a forum connecting Italian public figures, academics, journalists, diplomats, business leaders and representatives of American institutions. The organization’s activities include meetings between members of the Italian Parliament and US senators and representatives, discussions of legislation and international affairs, conferences, university collaborations and public events. It has worked with American academic institutions operating in Italy, including John Cabot University and Loyola University Chicago’s John Felice Rome Center. Its programming has included conferences and staged events addressing political, cultural and international themes. The foundation is also associated with United Nations Academic Impact and supports the Leadership per le relazioni internazionali e il Made in Italy master’s program, directed by former Italian minister Stefania Giannini. A central institution of the foundation is the America Award, or Premio America. Presented annually in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, the award recognizes prominent figures whose professional achievements or public initiatives have encouraged relations between Europe and the United States. Laureates have come from politics, diplomacy, journalism, science, business, entertainment, sport, design and the arts. The award ceremony also includes three silver medals from the President of the Chamber of Deputies for students at American universities. The prize object is designed as a maritime vessel carrying the American flag and is made using materials including sterling silver, rose bronze and palladium. The foundation has maintained a broad advisory and scientific network. Its scientific committee has included Italian and international figures from science, public administration, diplomacy, media, culture and business. The organization’s listed leadership includes President Mauro della Porta Raffo, several vice presidents, Secretary General and founder Corrado Maria Daclon, and a scientific committee led by Alain Elkann. The committee’s other listed officers include Stefania Giannini, Franco Bassanini and Antonio Martino, while Emilio Iodice has served as director. The foundation has also engaged in public advocacy around individual cases. During Amanda Knox’s imprisonment in Italy, a foundation delegation visited her at Capanne prison in December 2009. The organization subsequently supported Knox and advocated on her behalf through the legal proceedings, with Daclon assisting her after her acquittal and departure from prison. This activity became one of the most publicly reported examples of the foundation’s involvement in an Italy–United States issue. The foundation is not a commercial product brand. Its principal offerings are awards, educational programs, conferences, diplomatic and parliamentary exchanges, publications or media-related initiatives, and relationship-building activities between Italian and American institutions. Its public identity is therefore best understood as an international-relations and cultural-diplomacy organization rather than as a consumer-facing brand. Publicly available reference material does not establish a precise founding year, detailed financial profile, or a complete current leadership roster.

The Italy–USA Foundation was established as a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Rome with the broad purpose of improving friendship and understanding between Italians and Americans and promoting American culture in Italy. Public reference material identifies Corrado Maria Daclon as its founder and Secretary General, but does not provide a reliably documented founding year. From its base in Italy, the foundation developed a model centered on international relations, cultural exchange, education and public recognition rather than commercial activity. Its institutional work has included arranging encounters between Italian parliamentarians and members of the United States Congress. These meetings have addressed legislation, public policy and cultural questions, and have included contact with members of the American Legislative Exchange Council. The foundation has also cooperated with American universities active in Rome, including John Cabot University and Loyola University Chicago through the John Felice Rome Center. Such collaborations have supported conferences, projects and staged public events intended to create sustained academic and cultural links. Education became another important part of the organization’s profile. The foundation promotes the Leadership per le relazioni internazionali e il Made in Italy master’s degree, directed by former Italian minister Stefania Giannini. It is also identified as a member of United Nations Academic Impact. Through these activities, the organization presents transatlantic relations as connected not only with diplomacy and politics but also with higher education, Italian economic identity and international leadership. The foundation’s scientific committee has served as a broad advisory network. Reference descriptions say that it includes more than 30 members and draws from science, politics, diplomacy, journalism, business, design, film, food, sport and the arts. Named participants have included Paolo Mieli, Vincenzo Camporini, Fiamma Nirenstein, Mario Capecchi, Giampaolo Di Paola, Carlo Cracco, Giulio Tremonti, Carlo Rubbia, Dante Ferretti, Carla Fendi and other prominent figures. Alain Elkann is identified as president of the committee, with Stefania Giannini and Franco Bassanini as vice presidents, Antonio Martino as secretary and Emilio Iodice as director. The breadth of this network reflects the foundation’s attempt to treat Italy–US relations as a cultural and civic subject as well as a governmental one. The America Award became the foundation’s most visible recurring initiative. Held annually in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, the award honors eminent people whose achievements or initiatives have helped European–American relations. Its laureates have included artists, scientists, business leaders, athletes, journalists, diplomats and political figures. The ceremony also awards three medals of the President of the Chamber of Deputies to students at American universities. The award’s physical design, described as a caravel bearing the American flag, reinforces its symbolic emphasis on travel, exchange and historic links across the Atlantic. The organization attracted wider attention during the Amanda Knox prosecution. On 13 December 2009, a foundation delegation met Knox at Capanne prison near Perugia. The foundation subsequently campaigned in support of her during the case. Corrado Maria Daclon became a close supporter and, after Knox’s acquittal, helped manage her departure from prison and onward travel to Seattle. Knox later expressed gratitude to Daclon and to the foundation for the support she received in Italy. This episode showed the foundation operating as an advocacy and humanitarian intermediary in a case that had become a major Italy–United States media story. The foundation also reported a connection with Barack Obama. According to the reference account, Obama sent Daclon a letter near the end of his presidency thanking him and the foundation for support associated with Obama’s 2008 campaign and election. The account links this gesture to the foundation’s broader engagement with American political and civic life. Publicly available material does not establish a detailed chronology of all programs, a complete list of officeholders over time, or the foundation’s finances. Its continuing identity is that of a Rome-centered organization using awards, academic initiatives, conferences and personal networks to cultivate Italian–American relations.

• 2009

  Delegation visited Amanda Knox in prison

  [1]Italy–USA Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  On 13 December 2009, a foundation delegation met Amanda Knox at Capanne prison near Perugia, beginning a period of public support during her prosecution.

• Foundation established in Rome

  [1]Italy–USA Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Italy–USA Foundation was created as a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to friendship between Italy and the United States and to promoting American culture in Italy. A precise founding year is not established in the supplied references.

• America Award developed as annual institutional program

  [2]Italy–USA Foundation official websiteitaliausa.org

  The foundation established the America Award as an annual Rome ceremony recognizing achievements and initiatives that support Europe–United States relations, with additional medals for students at American universities.

• Foundation expanded academic and leadership activities

  [1]Italy–USA Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization promoted the Leadership per le relazioni internazionali e il Made in Italy master's program and maintained cooperation with American universities and United Nations Academic Impact.

A non-partisan cultural-diplomacy and transatlantic-relations foundation linking Italian and American public institutions, universities, professionals and cultural figures.

• Award and cultural diplomacy program

  America Award

  The America Award is the foundation’s signature annual recognition program. Presented in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, it honors distinguished figures from public life, culture, science, business, media, sport and the arts whose work is associated with stronger relations between Europe and the United States. The ceremony also includes three medals from the President of the Chamber of Deputies for students at American universities. The award is represented by a caravel-themed work made with precious metals.

• Master's degree and leadership education

  Leadership per le relazioni internazionali e il Made in Italy

  This master’s program is promoted by the Italy–USA Foundation and focuses on international relations and the global positioning of Made in Italy. The program connects the foundation’s transatlantic mission with advanced education and leadership development. Reference material identifies former Italian minister Stefania Giannini as its director.

• Cultural and political exchange

  Italy–US conferences and institutional exchanges

  The foundation organizes conferences, public meetings and exchanges involving Italian parliamentarians, US legislators, universities, diplomats and civil-society participants. Topics have included legislation, culture and international affairs. The format is designed to create direct institutional contact rather than deliver a standardized commercial service.

• 2009Amanda Knox support campaign

  Italy · United States

  After visiting Amanda Knox in Capanne prison in December 2009, the foundation publicly supported her during the prosecution. Secretary General Corrado Maria Daclon became a prominent personal supporter and assisted with her departure after the acquittal.

  Outcome. Knox was acquitted and left prison; the foundation’s role was subsequently described in Italian and American media, and Knox expressed gratitude for the support.

  Source
• America Award

  Italy · United States · Europe

  An annual recognition initiative honoring prominent individuals whose work contributes to cultural, civic, professional or diplomatic ties between Europe and the United States.

  Outcome. The program became the foundation’s principal public-facing ceremony and has recognized laureates across many professional fields.

  Source

• 2009

  Public intervention in the Amanda Knox caseStrategy

  Background

  The prosecution of Amanda Knox became a highly visible legal and diplomatic story involving Italy and the United States. The foundation treated the case as an issue requiring humanitarian and transatlantic support.

  Action taken

  A delegation visited Knox in prison, and the organization subsequently campaigned on her behalf. Corrado Maria Daclon later assisted her departure following the acquittal.

  Aftermath

  The intervention increased public awareness of the foundation and linked its international-relations mission with direct advocacy in a prominent legal case.

  Source

1. 1Italy–USA Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Italy–USA Foundation official websiteitaliausa.org