Two prominent businessmen and a state official will be honored for their contributions to the area as the Regional Chamber marks its 15th anniversary.
The annual celebration is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. April 3 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.
To be recognized for their efforts on behalf of the Mahoning Valley are philanthropist Anthony Lariccia, Cafaro Co. Vice President Anthony Cafaro Jr. and Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann. Lariccia will receive the William G. Lyden Jr. Spirit of the Valley Award, Cafaro will get the Donald Cagigas Spirit of the Chamber Award, and Dann the Chairman’s Political Achievement Award.
A special portion of the program citing the anniversary will feature reflections from leaders who have chaired the chamber’s board of directors since the organization became regional in 1993. They are, Thomas Humphries, William Bresnahan, John Pogue, Phillip Dennison, Gary Roberts, Steven Lewis, Thomas Fleming and Frank Hierro.
Also because of the anniversary, the chamber will give a prize at random to someone attending the luncheon. It will be a pair of airline tickets to Orlando, Fla., from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna. The tickets are courtesy of Allegiant Air and must be used within a year.
Lariccia for some time has donated to various efforts to improve the community. He is an investment adviser with Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.
Among his contributions in recent years have been:
n $4 million to Youngstown State University’s capital campaign, the largest single donation in university history.
n $150,000 to the Austintown Fitch High School athletic complex.
n $10,000 to the Hubbard School District’s capital campaign to renovate the system’s facilities.
n $750,000 to YSU for a student recreation and wellness center.
n $4 million trust fund for donations to Tod Children’s Hospital, Angels for Animals, Easter Seals, Youngstown Kidney Foundation , Hospice of the Valley and others.
Cafaro, a member of the family that owns the Youngstown-based shopping center development company, has been a chamber board member since 2005.
‘‘He is always stepping up in any way he can to help area organizations,’’ Kim Gonda, vice president of marketing and communications for the chamber said. ‘‘He is a great cheerleader for us.’’
Gonda said Cafaro was key in bringing 1,300 jobs to Niles with MCI.
Dann, a Liberty resident and former state senator, was elected Ohio attorney general in 2006. Since that time he has been involved in shuttering gaming parlors, overseeing hospital dealings and taken action against illegal business practices.
Anthem is sponsoring the gathering and Chase is handling the award presentations.
