John Cabot University (JCU), the leading American University in Italy, will honor Nicola Bulgari, world renowned philanthropist and entrepreneur during its Annual New York Gala on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Manhattan. More than 300 guests from the worlds of business, fashion, hospitality and diplomacy will attend. 

Mr. Bulgari will receive the Frank J. Guarini Award for Philanthropic Engagement, named for the former U.S. Congressman who was a past Chairman and a major benefactor of JCU. During the evening, JCU will also celebrate its ranking as a Top Ten Business School in Italy. 

Mr. Salvatore Salibello, Chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, stated: “JCU bridges American and European academic traditions providing students from all over the world the opportunity to study a full set of curricular offerings under an exceptional faculty in Rome.

We are delighted to honor Nicola Bulgari.  Mr Bulgari is the latest in a long line of distinguished honorees who prize the accomplishments of JCU and lend their presence to our advancement.”

According to Mr Bulgari, "It is an honor to receive this accord from John Cabot University, which, through its high standards and international influence offers a bright future to students interested in international business and many other careers and studies. Through its mission of providing a mix of high-quality American and Italian approaches in education in one of the great cultural capitals of the world, JCU students may avail themselves of the best of both worlds." 

JCU’s 53rd year has been marked once again by several benchmark accomplishments, including the largest student enrollment in its history, the announcement of plans to enlarge further the facilities of the Rome campus along the Tiber River, and its recent naming as a Top Ten business school in Italy.

Dr. Franco Pavoncello, President of the University, stated: “Each year we dedicate this occasion to celebrate great achievement and great achievers, including this year's distinguished honoree, Nicola Bulgari. The faculty and staff of the University continue to attract students and earn their loyalty for the academic standards we hold. As our advancement continues briskly forward, we look ahead optimistically and enthusiastically.”

According to Frank Desiderio, Chairman of the University's Development Committee, “JCU has alumni, interested sponsors, and friends all over the world, particularly in the greater New York area, many of whom will join our honoree, trustees, faculty, and alumni for our annual dinner and award ceremony. The remarkable figure of Nicola Bulgari and the unmistakable Bulgari name  have already engendered much interest in the Gala. We also look forward to welcoming new friends on April 1st.” 

For further information please visit www.johncabot.edu/give-to-jcu/new-york-gala or contact us at development@johncabot.edu.

Nicola Bulgari was born in Rome in 1941 and has been Vice Chairman of the Bulgari Group since 1984. He is the grandson of Sotirio, a talented silversmith who founded the family's company after emigrating from his native country, Greece. Together with his brother Paolo, Chairman of the Bulgari Group, his father, Giorgio, introduced Nicola to the family business in the 1960s.

BVLGARI was founded in Rome in 1884 as a jewelry shop and progressively established itself with its magnificent jewelry creations, emblems of Italian excellence. Today, it is part of the LVMH Group. Its international success has led the company to evolve into its current role as a global and diversified player in the luxury market, with a store network in the most exclusive shopping areas worldwide and a portfolio of products and services ranging from jewelry and watches to accessories, perfumes, and hotels.

A keen coin collector, Nicola Bulgari made a substantial contribution to one of the company's major and most successful aesthetic trends of those years — the creation of jewels incorporating such “gems.” He continued a well-established classical tradition (coins were lavishly used in the ancient world as adorning elements) while achieving modern and original results.

Since then, Nicola has become a world-renowned collector of antique silver. He has personally acquired, at auction, several rare examples of silver pieces from the Roman school, which are currently on exhibit in the Via dei Condotti flagship store. Indeed, his passion for silver was reflected in his mission from his early years with the company — to establish a substantial collection of silver items manufactured by BVLGARI, where technical perfection meets contemporary design and function. Nicola is also an avid collector of contemporary art and vintage American automobiles and is passionate about classical music.

Nicola Bulgari, recipient of the JCU Frank J. Guarini Medal for Leadership in Philanthropic Engagement, is a committed philanthropist and a supporter of young talent in numerous spheres of the arts worldwide. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall since 2007, and starting in May 2015, he joined the Board of Directors of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, one of the most important musical foundations in the world. His dedication to both the arts and charitable endeavors continues to influence the global cultural landscape.