NIAF E-News
March 2009     
Volume 3, Issue 4

NIAF West Coast Gala relocated to San Francisco

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NIAF takes a bite out of the Big Apple

Work continues on the Ambassador’s East Coast Gala, which will be held May 19, 2009 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square and hosted by its namesake, Italian Ambassador to the U.S. Giovanni Castellaneta, and his wife, Lila. The event is chaired by NIAF Board Member Rocco B. Commisso, chairman and CEO of Mediacom Communications Corp.

Honorees include Andrew Dolce of Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Dr. James M. Orsini, M.D., director of medical oncology at Clara Maass Medical Center, Natale Ricciardi of Pfizer Corporation, and actor Paul Sorvino.

Click here to REGISTER ONLINE today to reserve your seat for the NIAF Ambassador’s East Coast Gala!

For information regarding sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, contact Carolyn Laurenzano, associate director of development, at 202-939-3114 or Carolyn@niaf.org.

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NIAF grant deadline approaches

The next deadline to apply for NIAF’s Italian Language Study Grant (ILSG) and Culture and Heritage Grant Awards (CHGA) is May 29, 2009.

NIAF’s Grants Program lies at the core of our Foundation’s mission to preserve and protect the Italian American experience – namely our heritage, culture and language in America. The ILSG is a grant-matching program for organizations, individuals, schools and community groups to launch or expand Italian language courses in public or private elementary, intermediate and/or high schools. The CHGA grant is available to individuals or organizations pursuing research or education projects that promote or preserve Italian American culture, history or heritage.

Learn more about NIAF grants and application requirements at www.niaf.org/grants. For more information, contact Giuseppina Spillane at 202-939-3107 or gspillane@niaf.org.

NIAF networks with West Coast media

Last month, NIAF hosted a series of media networking forums on the West Coast. Held in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, these forums gave media professionals an opportunity to become acquainted with the Foundation and its initiatives.

CNN’s Bill Schneider kicked off the Foundation’s Frank J. Guarini Media Forum in Los Angeles on February 25 as keynote speaker. Together with Silvia Bizio of La Repubblica and Mario Trecco of L’Italo Americano, Schneider spoke to more than 50 journalists of Italian ancestry about the importance of working together to promote our rich culture. NIAF’s Vice Chairman Joseph R. Cerrell, Italy’s Consul General in Los Angeles Nicola Faganello and the Foundation’s West Coast area coordinators were also in attendance.

In Phoenix, NIAF Vice Chairman Jerry Colangelo opened the Media Forum at The Pointe-Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort. During the luncheon, Colangelo discussed his experience assembling the 2008 United States Men’s Basketball Olympic team, which won the gold medal in Beijing, to local media professionals.

On February 26 in San Francisco, Italy’s Consul General Fabrizio Marcelli hosted a dinner for area journalists at the Italian Consulate’s residence. At the event, NIAF Regional Vice President Jeff Capaccio joined keynote speaker Sonny Vaccaro, a sports marketing executive who pioneered grass roots marketing for Nike, Adidas and others.

NYC Police Museum to feature exhibit on Italian American officer

March marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Lt. Giuseppe “Joseph” Petrosino, New York City’s first Italian American police officer, who was known for his efforts to combat organized crime. With the help of a $6,000 NIAF grant, the New York City Police Museum will feature a comprehensive exhibit this fall commemorating his accomplishments

Petrosino dedicated his work to improving the lives of Italian immigrants in New York City and combating organized crime during the early 1900s. He remains the only New York Police Department officer to be killed in the line of duty abroad; he was assassinated on March 12, 1909 in Palermo, Sicily while investigating the Mafia. Among his many accomplishments, Petrosino founded New York’s Bomb Squad Unit, which remains a key component of keeping New York City safe today; established the “Italian Squad,” the first organized crime task force, to investigate and infiltrate the gangs that plagued New York City at the time; and pioneered intelligence-gathering and witness protection programs to combat crime groups.

The museum recently received an extensive collection of one-of-a-kind artifacts from Petrosino's life from La Casa Museo di Petrosino, personally presented to the museum by the grandnephew of Joseph Petrosino. The collection includes original personal family photos and letters, articles, magazines and illustrations.

 Visiting New York City?

Visitors to Manhattan’s Little Italy can take a trip back in time at the Italian American Museum’s new branch. Located within Banca Stabile, a historic building at the corner of Grand and Mulberry streets that closed its doors in 1932 but has been preserved, the museum depicts the business as it appeared during the early 20th century. It also features documents, photographs and artifacts that represent the experiences of the thousands of Italians who immigrated to the United States.

Banca Stabile has remained in the Stabile family since 1880s when Francesco Stabile founded the bank.  It was a cornerstone in the community offering banking, translation, mortgage, money-wiring, insurance and travel services.  The Stabile family left the building intact since the bank closed in 1932; tellers' windows, a huge safe, the contents of safe deposit boxes, period light fixtures, clients' bank books, deeds and passports remain intact and are on display.

The Italian American Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.  For more information, visit www.italianamericanmuseum.org.

Upcoming NIAF Events:

- NIAF Scholarship Program Deadline. For more information, visit www.niaf.org/scholarships.

Contact: Giuseppina Spillane
Phone: 202-939-3107
E-mail: gspillane@niaf.org
Date: March 6

-NIAF Kickoff Reception for the Rockland Golf Tournament, Tiro a Segno, 77 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012

Contact: Peter Giusti
Phone: 202-939-3105
E-mail: peterg@niaf.org
Date: May 14

- NIAF East Coast Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Contact: Carolyn Laurenzano
Phone: 202-939-3114
E-mail: carolyn@niaf.org
Date: May 19
Attire: Business

- NIAF Grants Program deadline.   For more information, visit www.niaf.org/grants.

Contact: Giuseppina Spillane
Phone: 202-939-3107
E-mail: gspillane@niaf.org
Date: May 29

- NIAF Italian University Club Grants Program deadline.   For more information, visit www.niaf.org/grants.

Contact: Giuseppina Spillane
Phone: 202-939-3107
E-mail: gspillane@niaf.org
Date: May 29

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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