One builds bridges between cities. The other builds the systems that let a community take care of its own. On Saturday, October 10, at Carnegie Hall, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and healthcare executive Concetto “Tino” Ruta were among the honorees of the 2026 Italian Reputation Award, the recognition created by Davide Ippolito, founder and president of the Italia America Reputation Lab, to celebrate those whose work strengthens Italy’s standing in the world.
For Hoylman-Sigal, the honor recognized a year in which the friendship between New York and Italy moved from sentiment to signature. In 2026 he signed a memorandum of understanding with Rome’s Municipio I, the first cultural cooperation agreement between the historic centers of the two cities. It was designed to open doors between institutions, museums, universities, and young people on both sides of the Atlantic. He was honored “for his commitment to public service and his tangible contribution to strengthening institutional and cultural ties between New York and Italy.” The award was presented by Giulia Silvia Ghia, Rome’s Municipio I Councilor for Culture, Education, Sports, and Youth Policy, who championed the agreement from the Roman side.
“The bonds between Manhattan and Italy run deep, which is why I was so proud to sign a historic cultural cooperation agreement with Rome’s Municipio I earlier this year,” Hoylman-Sigal wrote in his welcome message to the evening’s guests. “Our partnership celebrates what our communities have long understood: culture has the power to connect people across borders.” He closed by thanking the honorees “for strengthening the enduring friendship between Italy and New York.”
If Hoylman-Sigal’s work is about connecting places, Tino Ruta’s is about caring for people. Through Knights Care, Ruta leads a healthcare management and consulting organization focused on operational excellence and quality of care. Its work spans long-term and senior care communities across New York, including Vista on 5th, Villa Saint Francis, Chapin Home for the Aging, Masonic Community Care, and two Cassena Care facilities. Through Knights Care Global, with bases in New York and Rome, he is extending that vision internationally, building partnerships that connect healthcare, institutions, and capital to make quality care more accessible to the communities that need it.
Ruta was honored “for building and guiding healthcare platforms across complex regulatory and cross-jurisdictional environments in the United States and Europe.” The medal was presented by Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at UNINETTUNO University.
Seen side by side, the two awards tell a single story. A city is measured by the ties it builds beyond its borders, and by the care it gives to those within them, beginning with its elders. Both men have made that their work, and both have made Italy part of it.
They were honored alongside Andrea Mazzucchi, Rector of the University of Naples Federico II; Valter Quercioli, National President of Federmanager; entrepreneur Nick Eyde, who brought the Italian Bowl to Toledo; and artist Aldo Gallina. The evening also introduced a new Future Leader Under 30 award.
Hosted by Sky TG24 journalist Cristiana Mancini, the ceremony opened with students from La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi singing the Italian and American national anthems, and closed with Puccini’s “Nessun dorma” performed by pianist Francesco Pollon. Each honoree received a handcrafted medal by master goldsmith Marco De Luca, inspired by ancient Roman coinage and bearing the image of Eucleia, the Greek goddess of good repute.
Now in its third edition, the Italian Reputation Award was presented this year in partnership with Campus Salute, whose physicians spent the week offering free preventive health consultations to New York’s Italian community. The award is promoted by Reputation Research, RetImpresa, Campus Salute, Progetto Alfa, and IARL – Italia America Reputation Lab.