Maria Ierullo and Jennie Prosperine were the first local recipients at the first Filò in 2003. Maria Minna also received an award that year for being the first Italian Canadian woman to hold a cabinet post, and she was the guest speaker that evening.
These following archived awards recognized women of Italian heritage in the Ottawa area whose volunteer work continues to be an inspiration for other women in the community.
Maria Ierullo Award
This award is presented for outstanding service to our community at large. Maria Ierullo dedicated herself to community service and social activism based on her deep faith. She was an active member of St. Anthony’s Church. Her community work included organizing prenatal clinics for young Italian women and helping people get a fair price for their properties in the 1960s, when homes in the Booth/Preston Street area were being expropriated. In the summer of 2005, Maria passed away. Angela Ierullo, her daughter, has generously donated the Maria Ierullo Award for community service.
2015: Michelina Celluci
2014: Anita Alloggia
2013: Ivana Baldelli
2012: Maria Savianne-Chubb
2011: Paolina Violante
2010: Adalgisa Chiappa
2009: Fulvia Marcantonio
2008: Pierangela Pica
2007: Antonietta Avanzini-Kondrat
2006: Olita Schultz
2005: Rita Costantini
2004: Maria Bonacci
The Rosa Tiezzi Award
This award is presented for contributions to the community by promoting Italian culture. Rosa Tiezzi was one of the founders of Gruppo Anziani now located at 10 Balsam Street. Through her efforts in contacting women directly, she was able to fully involve them in social and recreational activities. In the spring of 2002, Rosa passed away. In her eulogy she was eloquently described as being strong and gentle. The Rosa Tiezzi Award for community service has been generously donated by her son, Italo Tiezzi.
2015: Cynthia Nuzzi
2014: Josephine Palumbo
2013: Renata Coppola
2012: Brunetta Filipponi
2011: Filomena Gulli
2010: Anna D’Angelo
2009: Vittoria Bucciarelli
2008: Pat Adamo
2007: Maddalena Iannitti
2006: Giovanna Panico
2005: Angelina Mangone
2004: Suore Serve Di Maria Addolorata De Nocera (the Servite Sisters)
The Jennie Prosperine Award
This award is presented for social service to the community. Jennie Prosperine was one of the first women to be recognized at the first Ottawa Italian Women’s Filò in 2003. She was dedicated to helping members of Ottawa’s small Italian community and newly arrived immigrants from Italy, who came after World War II. In June of 2007, Jennie passed away. The Jennie Prosperine Award for community service has been generously donated by her daughter, Nancy-Lou Prosperine.
2015: Anna Maria Morrone
2014: Milva Perri-Kennedy
2013: Graziella Laboccetta
2012: Carla Minoli-Lappa
2011: Matilde Zinni
2010: Trina Costantini-Powell
2009: Nina della Zazzera-D’Onofrio
2008: Raffaela Plastino
The Filò Award
In 2015, the Filò Award was introduced, as it became more difficult to find recipients whose volunteer work was focused only on social activism (Maria Ierullo Award) or culture (Rosa Tiezzi Award) or service (Jennie Prosperine Award). The contemporary Filò Award and Filò Youth Award recognize Italian Canadian women whose volunteer work takes place across the City of Ottawa.
2015: Amelia Palumbo
2016: Pina Vincelli Salusbury