NIAF E-News

Planning to attend the National Italian American Foundation’s 34th Anniversary Convention and Gala Weekend, the nation’s premier Italian American event? Then be sure to visit www.niaf.org for early registration.

By registering before July 1, you receive a discount and lock in your reservation for this two-day event, which consistently sells out; typically the gala alone is attended by 3,000 guests. Planned for the weekend of October 23-24, 2009 in Washington, D.C., the weekend will feature special receptions, entertainment and conferences.

In keeping with our tradition of hosting the President of the United States at this event, President Barack Obama has been invited to attend. President Obama has appointed several Italian Americans including Napolitano to prominent posts in his administration.

Most importantly, your attendance will advance NIAF’s educational programs, including scholarships and educational trips to Italy for young people, grants to organizations and other special initiatives to preserve and transmit our great heritage.

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You can do more than attend the convention and gala weekend – you can also be a part of the scene by exhibiting in our Strade d’Italia, a popular showcase of Italian goods, travel opportunities, food, wine and more.

Back by popular demand during the gala weekend, the Strade d’Italia is the perfect opportunity to showcase your business to Italian Americans from across the country. A variety of sponsorship packages are available, providing exhibit booths, volunteers to represent your company, tickets to the weekend’s Friday night entertainment and Saturday evening gala, and even ads in NIAF’s Ambassador magazine.

To sign up for an exhibit booth today, contact Beatrice Santacroce at 202-939-3120 or Beatrice@niaf.org or visit www.niaf.org for more details.

Keep visiting www.niaf.org for details about the 34th Anniversary Convention and Gala Weekend’s Friday Night Entertainment! Starting at 9 p.m. this year, the celebration will feature an array of delectable dishes, open bar, and an exciting performance sure to keep you on your feet.

Past Friday night performers have included Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The Duprees, Jay and the Americans, Italian singing sensation Patrizio and actor Joe Piscopo.

To purchase tickets, call Kelli DiPietro at 202-387-0600 or e-mail kelli@niaf.org. Additionally, click here to register for a gala weekend package that includes Friday Night Entertainment tickets.

Also in the news:

NIAF, State Department collaborate on Abruzzo relief efforts

Last week, NIAF and the U.S. State Department signed a memorandum of understanding outlining our joint cooperation on continued earthquake relief efforts in Abruzzo. Per the agreement, NIAF will lead a broad effort in raising private funds for relief activities with a special emphasis on students and education.

The NIAF/Abruzzo Relief Fund has raised more than $400,000 for the victims and communities affected by the April earthquake; however, NIAF’s fund-raising efforts are ongoing and the task of rebuilding is great. We urge you to support this worthy cause. Click here for more information or to make a donation.

To further our agreement with the State Department, NIAF also has launched the Adopt-a-Student Campaign, through which universities in the U.S. will offer up to 125 full scholarships to displaced students from the University of L’Aquila . Click here for more information or to lend your financial support.

For more information about the NIAF’s Abruzzo relief efforts and the Adopt-a-Student Campaign, contact Serena Cantoni, Director of Education and Culture at 202-939-3111 or serena@niaf.org.

Leon E. Panetta, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), served as keynote speaker at a NIAF Frank J. Guarini Public Policy Forum in the U.S. Congress on Thursday, June 11.

Representatives Pat Tiberi and Bill Pascrell, Jr., co-chairmen of the Italian American Congressional Delegation of the 111th U.S. Congress, welcomed Italian American business executives, government officials, opinion leaders and other Washington notables to this exclusive event.

NIAF honored Panetta with a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Public Service at the Foundation’s 22nd Anniversary Awards Gala in 1997. Panetta also served as keynote speaker at a NIAF-sponsored June 1994 economic summit conference in Rome, Italy. His father, Carmelo, was the 13th member of his family to immigrate to America; their family hails from the region of Calabria.

NIAF partners with Perillo Tours for trips to Italy

NIAF has launched an exciting new travel program with Perillo Tours and its sister company, ItalyVacations. With Perillo, travelers can choose to sign up for all-inclusive, fully-escorted tours through select regions of Italy. Alternately, travelers can use ItalyVacations -- a one-stop shop for air, hotel, domestic travel and sightseeing -- to build their own vacation by selecting which services they would like to use.

A portion of each booking using the special code NIAFPT will go directly to the Foundation. Visit www.niaf.org/PerilloTours or www.niaf.org/ItalyVacations to view all of your travel options.

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NIAF to host Fifth Annual Rockland Golf Tournament

Mark your calendars for Monday, August 10, when NIAF will host the Fifth Annual Rockland Golf Tournament at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, N.Y. This annual event is an important scholarship fundraiser for both local Rockland County residents as well as NIAF.

Following last year’s tournament, more than 130 golfers and 150 guests attended cocktails and dinner, which also featured music, a raffle and live auction for dinner at the world-famous Rao's Restaurant in New York City. Look for similar post-tournament events this year!

To inquire about golf tournament sponsorship packages, please contact tournament chairman Nicholas Caiazzo at nicholas.caiazzo@wilsonelser.com.

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NIAF 7th Annual Sarazen Memorial Golf Tournament

Plan to spend Columbus Day with fellow Italian Americans at the 7th Annual Sarazen Memorial Cup at Hopkinton Country Club in Hopkinton, Mass. This annual event, held this year on October 12, benefits Boston’s Italian Home for Children in addition to the NIAF Gene Sarazen Scholarship Fund.

The tournament bears the name of famed Italian American golfer Gene Sarazen, who died in 1999 after a career that included 38 PGA Tour wins, including seven major championships.

For more information, contact Suzanne Delaney at 978-851-0200 or sdelaney@rmd-inc.net.

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View pictures of NIAF’s spring galas

NIAF Regional Vice President Jeffrey M. Capaccio, Esq., actor and director Roberto Benigni and Gianni Succi at a May recepction prior to the West Coast Gala.

NIAF held two spring galas in May -– the Ambassador’s East Coast Gala on May 19 and the West Coast Gala on May 27; each highlighted outstanding members of the local Italian community to a full crowd of NIAF supporters.

Click here to view photos of the Ambassador’s East Coast Gala held at New York City’s Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Photos of NIAF’s West Coast Gala at the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco are available for viewing here.

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Italian ballet star to do book signing in New York

International ballet dancer Roberto Bolle will make an exclusive appearance at Rizzoli Bookstore in Manhattan on Tuesday, June 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. while in New York performing with the American Ballet Theatre.

The celebrated dancer will sign copies of “Roberto Bolle alla Scala,” a lavish book chronicling his illustrious career at Milan’s famous opera house, La Scala. Rizzoli Bookstore is located at 31 W. 57th Street between 5 th and 6th avenues. For more information or to purchase a signed copy if you can not attend, call 1-800-52-BOOKS.

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Journey to La Dolce Vita

Charity photo exhibit “Journey to La Dolce Vita” opens this month in New York, showcasing iconic images that celebrate the glamour of Italy in the 1950s and 60s. The exhibit marks the U.S. debut of these original archive photographs featuring Hollywood movie stars, royalty and presidents in Rome during the vibrant phase that Fellini described as “La Dolce Vita.”

The exhibit features unforgettable scenes including Joe DiMaggio on a Vespa, Frank Sinatra lounging on a beach, President John F. Kennedy saluting Italian troops and Charlton Heston on the set of “Ben Hur.” The sale of these original photographs benefits an international charity dedicated to children.

The photo exhibit opens June 26 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is set to travel to various other cities in the U.S. through August 2. Visit www.journeytoladolcevita.org to view an exact schedule.

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NIAF e-Newsletter compiled
by Beatrice Santacroce
and edited
by Monica Soladay.
enews@niaf.org

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