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Educational Programs
Public programs that encourage a deeper understanding of Italian history, traditions, arts, and contemporary culture.
Italian Cultural & Culinary Education
Preserving Italian heritage through education.
The IT-COMM Foundation for Italian Cultural & Culinary Education is the nonprofit arm aligned with IT-COMM. It is organized as a California public-benefit corporation recognized under Section 501(c)(3).
Our Purpose
IT-COMM Foundation Mission
The Foundation celebrates Italy’s living heritage while making it accessible, relevant, and meaningful to the broader public.
“To foster public appreciation and understanding of Italian culture through education, culinary experiences, cultural programs, and scholarships.”IT-COMM Foundation
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Culinary Workshops
Hands-on learning experiences that preserve and share Italy’s diverse regional culinary traditions.
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Cultural Events
Community-centered events that bring Italian culture to life through food, art, music, storytelling, and collaboration.
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Scholarships
Support for the next generation of chefs, artisans, students, educators, and cultural ambassadors.
Support the Foundation
Support Our Mission
Your support helps the IT-COMM Foundation for Italian Cultural & Culinary Education preserve and promote Italian culture for future generations.
Contributions help fund educational programs, culinary workshops, cultural events, scholarships, and other charitable initiatives that make Italy’s heritage accessible to the broader community.
Every contribution makes a difference.
Donate NowLeadership
Board of Directors
The Foundation is guided by leaders committed to public service, education, and the preservation of Italian cultural heritage.
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Paola Tonelli
President
SV
Silvia Veronese
Vice President
GL
Giovanni Lazzaro
Treasurer / Secretary
Distinct Organizations, Shared Vision
How the Foundation and IT-COMM relate
IT-COMM and the IT-COMM Foundation are legally distinct organizations. Their activities may be strategically aligned when collaboration advances their respective missions and is properly documented.
IT-COMM
- Supports members and the business community.
- Promotes commerce, professional relationships, and services.
- Conducts activities consistent with its business-league purpose.
- Maintains its own governance, finances, records, and operations.
IT-COMM Foundation
- Advances charitable and educational purposes.
- Offers cultural, culinary, and public-benefit programming.
- May provide scholarships or grants consistent with its mission.
- Maintains its own governance, finances, records, and operations.
Strategic collaboration
The two organizations may collaborate on suitable educational, cultural, or community initiatives through written agreements, fair-value arrangements, appropriate cost allocation, and clear separation of funds, decision-making, records, and charitable resources.
This page provides general organizational information and is not legal or tax advice. Specific collaborations should be reviewed by qualified nonprofit legal and tax professionals.
Celebrating Italian culture. Educating future generations.
Through public education, culinary learning, cultural experiences, and scholarship opportunities, the IT-COMM Foundation works to keep Italy’s heritage vibrant and accessible.
Contact the Foundation