NIAF News Releases

TIM MCGRAW AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI HEADLINE LIST OF STARS AT LARGEST ITALIAN AMERICAN GALA IN WASHINGTON, DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – September 13, 2004) Grammy Award-winning country music star Tim McGraw and legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti are among the honorees at National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 29th Anniversary Awards Gala, Saturday evening, October 16 at the Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington, D.C. The gala begins with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner.

Before more than 3,000 people, McGraw, whose mother’s maiden name is D’ Agostino, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Music and Pavarotti will be inducted into NIAF’s “Italian American Hall of Fame” for his work in music. McGraw will be accompanied by his wife, singer Faith Hill and mother, Betty Trimble.

Popular entertainer Tony Danza is the master of ceremonies. Singer Jo Dee Messina, NFL legend Franco Harris, actors Ben Gazzara, Claudia Cardinale and Giancarlo Gianni will be joined by comedian Fred Travalena at the NIAF gala.

President George W. Bush, Senator John Kerry, members of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, and Italian American leaders in business, sports, government, entertainment and the arts are expected to attend the event. This year’s dinner chairman is Thomas R. Tizzio, senior vice chairman for American International Group Inc. (AIG).

Honorees at this year’s NIAF gala also include: Carmella LaSpada, founder of No Greater Love and executive director of The White House Commission on Remembrance; and Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Holdings Group Limited. LaSpada will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Humanitarian Service. Plumeri will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.

During the gala and convention weekend, NIAF will also feature conferences, exhibits, the traditional celebrity luncheon and auction, and a seminar on tourism. On Friday, October 15, attendees will have the opportunity to have candid discussions with children of some of the most famous Italian Americans of the past at the Children of the Greats conference and attend Italian Americans and the 2004 Presidential Election conference. Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, will attend a private NIAF CEO luncheon, and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will participate in the Milestones of the Italian American Experience conference on October 16. Dinner tickets begin at $400 each. Proceeds to benefit the NIAF Scholarship and Education Programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact: Bonni Cellini at 202/939-3114 or bonni@niaf.org or register on-line at www.niaf.org .

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans.

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