The previous name of this club was the Italian-American Women’s Club of Cary.  The distinction of putting "Cary" in the name was because our members were originally part of the Italian-American Women’s Club of Raleigh.  Because the Cary membership was growing, in 1998 most Cary members split off and Mary DeBonis became the first President of the Cary group. Now we are one group, with members from Cary, Raleigh, Apex and surrounding areas.

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The original amount of funds that moved over from the Raleigh club was $1,424.  The original Cary club officers in 1998-1999 were:  Mary DeBonis, Nancy Krischner,  Joan DeRosa and Loretta Consiglia.

Mary was a local chiropractor, very personable and popular with her patients.  She had a generous nature and it was her idea to start a scholarship for a young woman of Italian descent from a local Cary High School who was planning to attend college.  She added to the excitement of awarding the scholarship with a surprise "shower" idea for the new college student, and club members brought appropriate gifts to the scholarship dinner.  The student and her mom were guests at the Scholarship dinner.  Every year we see how appreciative the recipient is and enjoy hearing her essay about her heritage.  Sharing our Italian heritage enriches us all.  

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Sadly, we lost Mary to lung cancer in June 2004.  But TRIAWC continues to keep her spirit alive with the tradition of the annual Mary DeBonis Scholarship.  Our members continue to meet each month, sharing our lives, and sharing the camaraderie and our Italian heritage.

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E il nostro patrimonio italiano vive! ​

(And our Italian heritage lives on!)