NIAF eNewsletter

NIAF announces Texas Gala Honorees

NIAF is proud to announce three honorees for our upcoming Texas Gala at The Adolphus hotel in Dallas on May 15, 2010.

The Foundation will present Jay Lombardo of Lombardo Apparel with a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Fashion, Bruno Mascolo, co-founder of Toni & Guy hair products, with a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business and the Arts and Victor “Vic” Salvino, dealer principle of Texas Kenworth Co., with a NIAF Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service.

The event – which is chaired by Joseph DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. – begins with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour, followed by 7:30 p.m. dinner. Cocktail attire is requested. Ticket prices range from $250 to $1,000; a number of sponsorship opportunities are available.

This is a great opportunity for Italian Americans in the Southwest to connect and celebrate our shared heritage. To learn more about how you can attend NIAF’s Texas Gala, click here. To sponsor the NIAF event, contact NIAF Senior Director Jerry Jones at 202-387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org.

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NIAF congratulates Italian American Olympic athletes

The National Italian American Foundation is proud to salute all Italian American Olympians, including the following Olympic medalists:

Brett Camerota of Park City, Utah, was one of a four-man team to win a silver medal in the Nordic Combined. Their Olympic win is an American first for the sport, in which ski jumps determine the start time for a 4 x 5-kilometer relay race. Although he is the junior member of the U.S. Nordic Combined team, Brett is no stranger to the Olympics; he competed for the U.S. in the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, with his twin brother, Eric.

Italian American athlete Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley, Calif., won two silver medals during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, becoming the first U.S. woman to win three career Olympic medals in Alpine skiing. Mancuso had previously competed in the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, where she won gold in the Giant Slalom.

The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team’s silver-medal win last night was due in part to four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero of Harper Woods, Mich. This is the second career silver Olympic medal for Ruggiero, who previously won gold in 1998 at Nagano, Japan, silver in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and bronze in 2006 at Torino, Italy.

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It’s time to walk the Walk!

You may attend our galas, donate to our scholarship funds or remain an active member of NIAF. But now you can truly walk the walk, by buying a brick on NIAF’s Walk of Honor.

Your purchase of a custom-designed brick, to be permanently displayed at the entrance of NIAF’s Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Building headquarters in Washington, D.C., will be an enduring symbol of your family’s support for our heritage and mission. Plus, it is your chance to help NIAF continue to build a meaningful program base – and walk the walk for years to come.

But act quickly! NIAF continues to receive brick orders and space is limited.

Perillo Tours is currently offering a $100 discount for each NIAF member who books any Perillo Escorted Trip or Custom Booking Trip (value must exceed $2,500 per traveler). Visit www.italyvacations.com/ to explore all of your travel options or call 1-800-Italy-25 and be sure to mention “NIAFPT” in order to receive your discount. Buone Vacanze!

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Sicily’s charm, hospitality and culture await attendees of NIAF’s next Heritage Travel Program, who will visit Catania, Erice, Marsala, Monreale, Mt. Etna, Palermo, Ragusa, Savoca and Taormina.

The last travel programs to Sicily were so popular and generated such an overwhelming response, that plans for next years’ trip have already been put in place. Spots tend to sell out fast, so contact Mariana Pisano from Unitours at mpisano@unitours.com to reserve your space today! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to travel with us!

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The Queen Mary 2 brings distinct British refinement to the sunny islands of the Caribbean, including St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Barbados and Turks & Caicos. Learn more by calling NIAF’s partner, Cruise Market, at 1-800-223-1946.

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During April, the U.S. Department of Commerce will conduct the 2010 Census. By law, the U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years and counts every resident of the United States.

The census helps communities receive federal funding for hospitals, schools, emergency services and other public works. But the information provided by the census goes much further.

Community organizations, including NIAF, rely on critical census data to ensure the continued representation of our constituents and to help plan our many programs. Additionally, NIAF has long served as a census partner, helping inform communities about the importance of accurate census data. NIAF also has partnered with the Department of Commerce to assist in locating residents fluent in Italian to assist with Italian language portions of the census program.

Accordingly, we want you to be informed about the upcoming census process. For any questions visit the 2010 U.S. Census Web site and stay informed at www.niaf.org. Or for questions about NIAF’s involvement with the census, contact John Strada, manager of Government Relations & Public Policy at 202-939-3121.

A bone marrow drive will be held for MTA Sgt. Michael Costanza, an Italian American with leukemia, at Vanderbilt Hall in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact the MTA’s Police Benevolent Association at 516-823-8930 or visit www.mtapba.com to learn more.

Or, to find out how you can be an important addition to the number of bone marrow donors of Italian descent, contact the National Marrow Donor Program at www.marrow.org.

This exhibit features more than 300 artifacts from Italy and the United States, bringing together a never-before-seen collection from Italy’s leading archaeological institutions in Florence, Naples, and Rome, paired with objects from more than 40 institutions in the United States.

Print out and present this page at the National Constitution Center box office now through August 1, 2010 to redeem the $2 off discount towards adult admission to Ancient Rome & America at the National Constitution Center. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens, $12 for children between the ages of 4-12 and free for National Constitution Center members and children under the age of 4.

The Bay Area’s Museo Italo-Americano presents “In Cerca di Una Nuova Vita: From Italy to California, Italian Immigration 1850 to Today.” The exhibit, which is open until March 28, documents the experience of Italian immigrants to California through three waves of immigration -- 1850-1924, 1924-1970, and 1970 through today.

A collection of historic photos and other materials highlight their struggle, determination, creativity, and ultimately, the cultural and economic contributions that Italians have made to the development of this state. For more information, visit www.museoitaloamericano.org.

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Mark your calendars!

NIAF is offering the following special events in the coming month. Visit NIAF’s calendar to learn about more NIAF events near you!

NIAF Supports American Cancer Society’s Celestial Gala. Location: Admiral’s Cove, Jupiter, FL.
Contact : Rachel Salerno
Phone: (202) 939-3122
E-mail: rsalerno@niaf.org
Date: February 27

NIAF Sports and Entertainment Council kick-off event at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. Time: 5-7 p.m.
Contact : Rachel Salerno
Phone: (202) 939-3122
E-mail: rsalerno@niaf.org
Date: March 15

NIAF Scholarship Application Deadline. Online application now available at www.niaf.org/scholarships.
Contact : Riccardo Skeem
Phone : (202) 939-3107
E-mail: rskeem@niaf.org
Date: March 5

NIAF Supports Il Circolo Gala in Palm Beach, Fla. This event features NIAF Regional Vice President Robert Silvani as the Honorary Chair and will honor NIAF Vice Chair Hon. Louis Freeh as “Man of the Year.” Time: 6 p.m. cocktail reception, 7 p.m. gourmet dinner. Click here for more information.
Contact : Lexye Aversa
Phone: (561) 512-7333
Date: March 21

NIAF Council Event featuring the NIAF Institute for International Law with keynote speaker Hon. Louis Freeh, former FBI director. Location: Central New Jersey. Time: Reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.
Contact : Rachel Salerno
Phone : (202) 939-3122
E-mail: rsalerno@niaf.org
Date: March 25

NIAF Council Event at the Geppi Entertainment Museum in Baltimore. Address: 301 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2434. Time: TBD.
Contact : Rachel Salerno
Phone : (202) 939-3122
E-mail: rsalerno@niaf.org
Date: March 29

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For the latest NIAF news and in-depth details of all the Foundation offers, be sure to visit our Web site: www.niaf.org