Announcement
of The 2004 World Citizenship Award Recipient
Hamilton, ON – March 25, 2004
The Hamilton Mundialization Committee is pleased to
announce the recipient of this year’s World Citizenship
Award. Tony DiSilvestro, a resident of Hamilton mountain,
has been named World Citizen of the Year 2004. He was
nominated for his successful efforts toward advancing
the health, education and welfare of young and not-so-young
people around the world.
He is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton
Mountain, having served over 28 years in many capacities,
both locally as President and Secretary, and globally
as Director of Club International Services and with
Rotary District 7090 World Community Service, representing
over 70 local clubs.
He was involved in the startup of the “Malawi
against Polio” project. Tony was instrumental
in the establishment of facilities for orthopaedic surgery
in Malawi.
With a challenge to match certain donations with his
personal funds, Tony was able to generate more than
$ 400,000 for “Gift of Sight”. Over 50,000
people were able to access treatment as a result. Proceeds
went to eye-care facilities in Calcutta, Coimbatore
and Hosiarpur, in India. Beneficiaries have been young
people. There is also a clinic in Cambodia. He organized
the collection and sending of eyeglasses for needy people
in developing countries through “Operation Eye
Sight”.
His commitment to education was revealed in his organization
of the shipment of hundreds of books collected for libraries
in the Philippines, India and Niger.
He acted as a mentor to a doctor from Italy who came
to Canada for advanced studies in Pathology at McMaster
University.
Tony started an apple programme in two core area Hamilton
schools, at his own expense. Apples are distributed
to pupils as a part of the nutrition programme.
The Hamilton Mundialization Committee is proud to recognize
Tony DiSilvestro for his real contributions in promoting
cooperation, peace, health and knowledge among people
of the world.
The Award Presentation ceremony took place on Thursday,
March 25, 2004 in the Council Chambers of Hamilton City
Hall at 5:30 p.m. The award includes a bronze medallion
mounted on a plaque. Morteza Jafarpour, Executive Director
of SISO, as winner of the Award in 2003, participated
in the presentation.
Previous winners of the award include:
- Morteza Jafarpour (2003),
- Gary and Joy Warner (2002),
- Lt.-Gen. (Ret.) Roméo Dallaire (2001),
- Alan F. Phillips (1998), Joanna Santa Barbara (1996),
- Graeme MacQueen and Paul Dekar (1994),
- Sister Helen Kobelsky (1992),
- Leonor Sorger (1991), Agdhas Javid (1990),
- Sheila Davis (1989), Hanna and Allan Newcombe (1988).
This year seven residents of Hamilton were nominated:
- Kursheed Ahmed
- Natasha Crugnale
- Tony DiSilvestro
- Gurcharan Singh Mander
- Patricia McNeice
- Anne Pearson
- Delmar McCormack Smyth
The ceremony was hosted by the Hamilton Mundialization
Committee, a council-mandated advisory committee of
the City of Hamilton whose function, fundamentally,
is to facilitate and support peace initiatives and the
twinning relationships between Hamilton and its nine
twin-cities around the world. Our commitment is based
on the belief in the interdependence of people around
the world, and that future peace and progress are dependent
on co-operation, goodwill and understanding. The Mundialization
Committee is a member of the Roundtable on Strengthening
Hamilton’s Community Initiatives.
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