Significant Achievements

County of Santa Clara CA USA/Province of Florence, Italy
Sister County Commission

On May 5, 2012, The County of Santa Clara, CA USA/Province of Florence, Italy Sister County Commission will celebrate 25 years of a sustained relationship with the Province of Florence. Extensive planning is under way to commemorate the Commission’s 25th anniversary. The Commission will recognize community leaders Marge Valente, Joanne and Richard Della Maggiore, and Marilyn and Frank Dorsa with the Medici Medallion Citizen of the Year Award. This award is presented to individuals who demonstrate philanthropic, intellectual and cultural awareness, and great generosity and community involvement.

As a self-supporting entity, The County of Santa Clara, CA U.S.A/Province of Florence, Italy Sister County Commission’s Medici Masked Ball is the Commission’s signature fundraising event. Thanks to the generosity of loyal supporters, the Commission continues to advance its goal of understanding and promotion of cultural, educational and economic exchanges between the two regions.

In addition, the Commission provides annual scholarships to support Santa Clara County students accepted to study at accredited universities in Florence, Italy. Numerous achievements reflect the Commission’s dedication to promoting an understanding of Italian culture and heritage. A few achievements are listed below:

• Coordinated an official delegation to the Province of Florence in October 2011 to meet Province of Florence President Andrea Barducci and Province colleagues, share best practices, strengthen communication, and discuss future collaborations with the Province.
• Facilitated the new Sister City relationship between the City of Milpitas, and Comune di Figline Valdarno.
• Co-hosted a reception at the Capital Club to welcome the Patrons of Italian Culture to San José during their October 2011 annual retreat.
• Co-sponsored the Annual Italian American Heritage Foundation Family Festa.
• Hosted the Renaissance Evening on April 2, 2011 at the Italian American Heritage Foundation.
• Developed a school e-mail education exchange and video conferencing program between schools from Santa Clara County and the Province of Florence.
• Hosted a formal government delegation from the Province of Florence on October 16-21, 2010. Members of the delegation were Province of Florence President Andrea Barducci, Council President David Ermini, Council members Loretta Lazzeri, Laura Biagiotti, Salvatore Barillari, and Secretary to the President of the Province, Mauro Costi.
• Hosted Cena alla Griglia Toscana, the Commission’s Annual Appreciation BBQ on September 23, 2010 at the Guglielmo Family Winery, in Morgan Hill, to celebrate past and present commissioners. Over 200 current and former commissioners and Friends of Florence attended.
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of Florence to explore and develop new collaborations to promote the goals of the Commission.
• Successfully planned and executed its biennial Medici Masked Ball, the Commission’s signature fundraising event, including the last one, on May 16, 2009. Nearly 500 supporters attended the event. The Commission honored community leaders George Chiala, Julie Riera Matsushima, Laura and Sam Liccardo, and Dianne and Nicholas Speno as Citizens of the Year.
• Established and promoted the Florence Commission Da Vinci Educational Sponsorship Project and partnered with The Tech Museum of Innovation, area businesses and individual donors to make it possible for 3,540 students and chaperones to experience the Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit. The exhibit was extended through January 25, 2009 due to popular demand and the unprecedented number of school field trip visits.
• Coordinated a welcoming reception by the Board of Supervisors and the Commission for the new Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, Fabrizio Marcelli, to reaffirm the commitment to the sister county relationship.

Ongoing Projects

• Implementing a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Province of Florence and the Sister County Commission to explore and develop new cultural, technological and educational collaborations and to promote the goals of the Commission.
• Working to facilitate sister city relationships between the cities and towns in Santa Clara County and the cities and towns in the Province of Florence and economic development linkages.