Join us at the NIAF 12th Annual Gala for Young Italian Americans for a fun-filled evening of friends, dinner, dancing, and celebrities! The Youth Gala is open to all Italian Americans and Italophiles ages 18 – 35, and runs simultaneously to our NIAF 33rd Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner at the Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington, DC, on October 18, 2007.

The Youth Gala is a wonderful way to bond with old friends and meet new ones over a delicious multi-course meal, with entertainment and dancing to a live dj. In addition, we will be viewing the proceedings of the NIAF 33rd Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner and having celebrity appearances. Past appearances at the Youth Gala include Matt LeBlanc, Tommy Lasorda, Roberto Benigni, Tony Danza, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Chazz Palminteri, Anne Hathaway, and former President Bill Clinton, to name a few.

If you were with us last year you joined some notable friends including: Rudy Giuliani, Nancy Pelosi, Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Connie Stevens, Martin Scorsese, Yogi Berra, Dion, Gina Lollobrigida, General Peter Pace, Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito, Susan Lucci, Tony LoBianco Dick Vermeil, Vince Papale, Jerry Vale, and Maria Bartiromo.

Among some of the past honorees and invited guests are T im McGraw , Robert De Niro, Lee Iacocca, Giorgio Armani, Al Pacino, Andrea Bocelli, Nicolas Cage, Tony Bennett, Alan Alda, Joe Montana, John Travolta, Sophia Loren, and Roberto Benigni. As with most election years, we also anticipate the attendance of the Presidential candidates at the event.

You are also invited to take part in other exciting events during our Gala Weekend on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, including wine and food tastings, in our Piazza d’Italia exhibitions, and Friday night entertainment.

Come alone or bring a friend - the Gala is a wonderful experience for all!

• View, download and print the 2008 Youth Gala Weekend Schedule! (pdf format).