The Sicilian American Cultural Association will hold its annual Medal of Merit dinner on Sept. 16 Cucina Biagio in Harwood Heights. This year’s recipient is attorney Sam F. Cannizzaro. (773-454-4771). Cannizzaro is a Sicilian American who has lived on the Northwest Side of Chicago all his life. He is a family law attorney and partner of the downtown Chicago law firm of Birnbaum, Haddon, Gelfman & Arnoux, LLC.

As an attorney, Cannizzaro has served multiple terms on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly as well as a committee chairperson. He has been involved with the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He recently received the Justinian Society of Lawyers’ Judge Gerald L. Sbarboro Award for mentoring younger lawyers.