(WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- December 11, 2007)    David Buttecali, a real estate and media executive based in The Woodlands, Texas, has been appointed National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) area coordinator for southeast Texas, including Houston.

 “Buttecali will greatly enhance NIAF’s presence in southeastern Texas,“ said Michael H. Renzulli, NIAF regional vice president for the Southwest, who appointed Buttecali. “He will work to increase NIAF’s membership base which will help fund additional scholarships and youth programs in this important area of our country. Additionally, he will serve to strengthen the business and social network of Italian Americans living in the Houston area.”

As area coordinator, Buttecali will develop and execute activities and programs to increase NIAF’s visibility throughout the region.  Over the years, many young people in Texas have benefited from the millions of dollars NIAF has devoted to scholarships, cultural grants, mentoring, U.S./Italy student exchanges and more. 

Buttecali, a native Houstonian and 25-year veteran of the real estate industry, is a principal of Andora Capital, a commercial real estate finance and management firm. He also serves as a principal of Skymar Media Group, producers of radio and Internet media programming.

Buttecali’s family emigrated from Sicily in the early 1900s and settled in the towns of Bryan, Navasota, Houston and Stafford.  He and his wife of 14 years, Donna, have four children, Sierra, Jillian, Marina and Skylar.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Texas has 363,354 Italian Americans, approximately two percent of the population.

NIAF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving the heritage and promoting Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org or e-mail niafhouston@yahoo.com.