The New York ceremony recognized leaders in healthcare, business, academia, public service and the arts whose work connects Italy and the United States.
Healthcare executive Concetto “Tino” Ruta, president and CEO of Knights Care Global, was among six honorees recognized Saturday at Carnegie Hall during the third annual Italian Reputation Awards, an event celebrating individuals whose work has helped strengthen professional, cultural and institutional ties between Italy and the United States.
Ruta received the award for his leadership in healthcare, particularly his experience developing and managing healthcare platforms across different regulatory environments in the U.S. and Europe.
As head of Knights Care Global, which operates from New York and Rome, Ruta works at the intersection of healthcare management, institutional partnerships, investment and technology. His work includes healthcare operations, public-private partnerships and international cooperation in an industry where navigating different regulatory systems remains a significant challenge.
The award was presented by Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at UNINETTUNO University and former prefect of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication.
The ceremony brought together a diverse group of honorees whose careers reflect the many ways Italy and the United States continue to influence one another.
Among those recognized was Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan Borough President, whose work has included strengthening institutional cooperation between New York and Rome. Earlier this year, Manhattan and Rome’s First Municipality signed a cultural cooperation agreement connecting the historic centers of the two cities.
Andrea Mazzucchi, rector of the University of Naples Federico II, one of the world’s oldest universities, was honored for his contributions to higher education and scholarship. A Dante scholar and member of the Accademia della Crusca, Mazzucchi represents an academic tradition that continues to play a role in contemporary research and education.
Valter Quercioli, national president of Federmanager, received recognition for his work promoting managerial expertise and leadership within Italy’s industrial sector.
Nick Eyde, a former professional football player and entrepreneur, was honored for his role in bringing the Italian Bowl, the championship game of Italy’s American football league, to Toledo, Ohio, an example of how sports can create connections between communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
The arts were represented by Aldo Gallina, a painter and sculptor who incorporates Braille into his work, including an American flag designed to be experienced through touch.
The 2026 edition also introduced the Young Leader Under 30 Award, presented to athlete and startup entrepreneur Greta Fraraccio in collaboration with United Italian Societies.
Healthcare was a recurring theme throughout the weekend. Alongside the awards ceremony, Community Care Network, a nonprofit focused on preventive healthcare, organized a series of free health education sessions at La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi in New York. From October 8 through 11, Italian physicians and specialists met with students and families to discuss prevention, health awareness and access to reliable medical information.
The participating physicians received special recognition during the Carnegie Hall ceremony.
The event was hosted by Cristiana Mancini, a journalist with Italy’s sky tg24 news network. Students from La Scuola d’Italia performed the American and Italian national anthems, while actress Alice Lussiana Parente read Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus, the poem inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
The program also included a reading by Serena D’Andria reflecting on the experiences of early Italian immigrants, with musical performances by pianist Francesco Pollon, who closed the ceremony with Nessun dorma.
Each recipient received a handcrafted medal created by Italian goldsmith Marco De Luca, inspired by ancient Roman coins and dedicated to Eucleia, the Greek personification of good reputation.
The Italian Reputation Awards were founded by Davide Ippolito, president of the Italy America Reputation Lab, as a way to recognize the individuals and professional contributions behind Italy’s international reputation.
In his welcome message, Ippolito drew a contrast between the experiences of Italian immigrants a century ago and the position of Italian Americans and Italian professionals today.
“A hundred years ago, for many Italians arriving in America, being Italian was something they felt they had to hide,” Ippolito said. “Today, here at Carnegie Hall, we are doing almost the opposite: giving a name and a story to those whose work helps earn Italy respect around the world.”
The event was organized by the Italy America Reputation Lab in collaboration with RetImpresa Confindustria, Campus Salute and Piazza Italia New York, with Campus Salute president Pasquale Antonio Riccio among the principal partners of this year’s edition.