NIAF takes a bite out of the Big Apple
It’s not too late to attend NIAF’s Ambassador’s East Coast Gala tomorrow at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. Hosted by its namesake, Italian Ambassador to the U.S. H.E. 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, a unique global hospitality company specializing in delivering an exceptional corporate meetings experience; Dr. James M. Orsini, M.D., director of medical oncology at Clara Maass Medical Center; Natale Ricciardi of Pfizer Corporation, the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company; and award-winning actor, director and author Paul Sorvino.
This exclusive event will include a live auction featuring items such as an exclusive dinner for four at RAO’s New York.
Contact Carolyn Laurenzano, associate director of development, for ticket and sponsorship information at Carolyn@niaf.org. For information on silent and live auction details, contact Alessia Dinkel, fund development manager, at Alessia@niaf.org.
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NIAF celebrates San Francisco at West Coast Gala
NIAF will celebrate San Francisco’s Italian American community at the NIAF West Coast Gala on May 27, 2009 at the Fairmont Hotel. The event is chaired by Jeffrey M. Capaccio, Esq., NIAF Regional Vice President for the Far West.
The gala will honor philanthropists John and Romana Bracco in addition to computer software executives Federico Faggin, Giacomo Marini, and Pierluigi Zappacosta.
The evening will feature both a live and silent auction, with items up for bid including a Snaidero USA Venus Kitchen, a chance for eight people to dine with Italy’s Consul General for San Francisco, a basketball autographed by the 2008 Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, and many other items from Bentley, Ferrari, Logitech, Sony, The Fairmont Hotel, and more.
There is still time to reserve your seat at this exclusive event! REGISTER ONLINE today or contact Carolyn Laurenzano, associate director of development, at 202-939-3114 or Carolyn@niaf.org.
For information on silent and live auction details, contact Alessia Dinkel, fund development manager, at 202-939-3117 or Alessia@niaf.org.
Visit www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco or call 1-866-540-4491 for hotel accommodations.
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NIAF President and Secretary visit site of Abruzzo earthquake
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John F. Calvelli (left) and Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. |
NIAF President Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. and Board Secretary John F. Calvelli traveled to Rome and L’Aquila in Italy to meet with prominent officials of the Italian government and the U.S. Embassy to discuss allocation of funds collected for the Abruzzo relief efforts.
Del Raso and Calvelli arrived on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, and met with Chargé d'affaires Elizabeth Dibble and her staff at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The NIAF mission also included meetings with Antonio Manganelli, director of national police, and an evening briefing on the current situation in L’Aquila and the region of Abruzzo.
On Wednesday, April 29, a U.S. Embassy cultural officer along with Del Raso and Calvelli traveled to L’Aquila to meet with local government officials including Chief of Protezione Civile Guido Bertolaso, Minister of the Interior Roberto Maroni and Ambassador Sergio Vento. At the site, they announced a partnership between NIAF and the University of Miami in Florida, Sierra Nevada College in Nevada and Villanova University in Pennsylvania to offer full academic scholarships to the displaced students from the University of L’Aquila.
Individuals, corporations and foundations who wish to donate to the NIAF/Abruzzo Relief Fund can make their donations online at www.niaf.org/relief. All donations are tax deductible. Every dollar contributed will go directly to the victims. For more information about NIAF’s efforts in L’Aquila and its neighboring towns, visit www.niaf.org/relief.
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NIAF urges you to help adopt a student from L’Aquila
Among the casualties of the earthquake disaster that struck the Abruzzo region of Italy in April were the shattered hopes of 27,000 students of the University of L’Aquila who were displaced as their university lost buildings and had to close its doors.
These students need help and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is dedicated to providing an answer. NIAF is working with several universities to provide scholarships for students displaced by this terrible tragedy.
To accommodate 125 students from University of L’Aquila for a full academic year in the U.S., NIAF’s goal is to raise $1 million. We hope you will respond to this urgent appeal and become a donor to NIAF’s Adopt-a-Student Campaign for L’Aquila Students.
Every dollar you give helps NIAF meet the needs of the displaced students:
$500 - Covers a student’s cost of textbooks and supplies for one semester.
$1,000 - Covers a student’s travel to/from Italy for the academic year.
$2,500 - Provides for a student’s meal plan for a semester.
$5,000 - Gives one student housing in a residence hall for two semesters.
$9,000 - Provides for all non-tuition expenses for one student for the academic year.
* Costs are estimated. Donations of any amount are accepted. All donations are tax deductible.
For more information about the NIAF’s Adopt-a-Student Program, contact Serena Cantoni, Director of Education and Culture at 202-939-3111 or serena@niaf.org.
Adopt-a-Student today by donating online or send a check to: NIAF/Abruzzo Adopt a Student, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.
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Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs gives policy address at U.S. Capitol
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Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq., Bill Pascrell, Pat Tiberi, Franco Frattini |
On May 7, 2009 the NIAF Public Policy Institute hosted a special policy address in the U.S. Capitol with the Honorable Franco Frattini, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Frattini, who holds a position equivalent to U.S. Secretary of State, addressed an intimate audience consisting of Members of Congress, government officials, and other Washington, D.C., notables. Minister Frattini’s speech, “Italy in the Global Outlook,” highlighted the Italian Republic’s increasingly important role in the new global political climate and the vast opportunities for dialogue at the upcoming G-8 Summit in L’Aquila in addition to touching on new global partnerships between U.S. and Italian companies.
Italian American Congressional Delegation co-chairmen Bill Pascrell and Pat Tiberi presented Minister Frattini with a U.S. House of Representatives Resolution recognizing the quick and efficient response of the Italian Government during the April earthquakes. The resolution specifically mentioned the assistance of the National Italian American Foundation in raising funds for the re-development of the tragedy-stricken area.
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NIAF hosts Graduates to Leaders youth leadership program in Siena and Rome
The University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Siena are partnering with the NIAF’s Graduates to Leaders Program to offer scholarships for the European Union’s Jean Monnet International Summer Seminars in Siena and Rome, Italy. Selected Italian American students will receive a scholarship to attend two seminars dedicated to the exploration of the changing nature of the E.U. The scholarships are for tuition only for two seminars lasting three weeks; chosen participants are responsible for their transportation, room and board while attending the seminars.
The seminars are highly selective and intensive, with 30 teaching hours each week. There is a pre-requisite for the second seminar and applicants must show proof of knowledge about the E.U.
For further information, e-mail eu.summer.seminar@uniroma2.it or visit www.niaf.org/g2l or www.eusummerseminar.uniroma2.i.
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Public Policy reception held at Finmeccanica North America headquarters
On May 13, the NIAF Public Policy Institute held a rooftop policy reception overlooking The White House and Gardens at the headquarters of Finmeccanica, North America. Finmeccanica Inc., Italy’s largest defense company and the world’s eighth, employs over 13,000 individuals in the U.S. The event brought together leading Washington, D.C., government and business executives. Central to the mission of the NIAF is strengthening transatlantic commercial and cultural relations.
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NIAF announces scholarship winners
NIAF is proud to announce its 2009 scholarship recipients. Notifications were sent on May 15; results will be published on each applicant’s individual status page online.
NIAF has awarded scholarships and grants to outstanding students for use during the following academic year. The awards are made on the basis of academic merit and divided between two groups of students: Italian American students who demonstrate outstanding potential and high academic achievements in any area of study and students from any ethnic background majoring or minoring in Italian language, Italian studies, Italian American studies or a related field, who demonstrate outstanding potential and high academic achievements.
Scholarship awards range from $2,000-$12,000. Each scholarship award can only cover tuition and university-provided room and board. Scholarship recipients are eligible for one year of scholarship support. Scholarship applicants and winners can and are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years.
Applications for NIAF scholarships can only be submitted online. Information for 2010 scholarships will be available in the fall.
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NIAF Partners with Perillo Tours for trips to Italy
NIAF is set to launch an exciting new travel program with Perillo Tours and its sister company, ItalyVacations. Travelers will now have the option to sign up for all-inclusive, fully-escorted tours through a select regions of Italy, or to build their own vacation around ItalyVacations’ full travel and accommodations services. A portion of every booking using the special NIAF code will go directly to the Foundation. Stay tuned for more information and details about this special NIAF partnership coming later in the 2009 travel season. Visit www.niaf.org/PerilloTours to see your travel options.
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Upcoming NIAF Events:
- NIAF Ambassador’s 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 West Coast Gala at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. For more information, visit www.niaf.org/galas
Contact: Carolyn Laurenzano
Phone: 202-939-3114
E-mail: Carolyn@niaf.org
Date: May 27
Attire: Business
- NIAF Grants Program Application 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 Application Deadline. For more information, visit www.niaf.org/grants.
Contact: Giuseppina Spillane
Phone: 202-939-3107
E-mail:gspillane@niaf.org
Date: May 29
-Kick-off Reception for the Fifth Annual Rockland County Golf Tournament, aboard the Intrepid Museum in New York City, Pier 86, W. 46th St. and 12th Ave., New York, NY 10036-4103
Contact: Johnny Strada
Phone: 202-939-3121
E-Mail:jstrada@niaf.org
Date: June 9, 2009 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Attire: Business
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NIAF e-Newsletter compiled
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