November 2024
We are incredibly proud and honored to be the Co-Presidents of the Enrico Fermi Educational Fund of Yonkers (“Enrico Fermi”) 61 years and over 450 recipients and over $1.0 million in scholarships after its founding. We both have deep ties to Fermi – Mike Vitulli, the Founder of Enrico Fermi is Ron’s uncle, whereas Rich Poccia is a former recipient.
 
The Fermi mission of today is exactly what the founders envisioned – to provide academic scholarships to students entering college with traceable Italian heritage and to give them a chance to pursue higher education through college. Today is so different from 61 years ago – technology, changing demographics across the region and country and the expense of a college education. Although the years have moved on, the importance of education is as important now as ever. Our core values have not changed and it is critical that we maintain our traditions and the stories of our ancestors who worked hard and maintained the family as the center of all they did. We survived a global pandemic and some of the divides in our country, but through that all, education and our commitment and perseverance remains steadfast.
 
Your membership and donations directly contribute to providing educational opportunities for our Italian-American youth in Yonkers and in Westchester County, New York. It is precisely that education which can change the course of events in our world. We appreciate your past donations and ask you for your continued support and generosity. Under the Membership tab, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund.
 
Mark your calendars! Our annual scholarship breakfast will be held on May 3, 2025 at Mulino’s in Eastchester, New York.  
Thank you for your interest and continued support.
 
Sincerely,
Ronald Salvatore and Richard J Poccia,
Co-Presidents, Enrico Fermi Educational Fund of Yonkers