FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino, 202-939-3106

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(WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 8, 2015)  Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., founder and director of IntegraLifeSciences, a world leader in medical technology, will be honored at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 40^th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.  Caruso will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business and Health on October 17, 2015, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park. The black-tie event begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner and an awards ceremony.

Honorees joining Caruso include Amato L. Berardi, founder of Berardi & Associates Inc., and former Member of the Italian Parliament; Connie Francis, Italian American music legend; Mario Gabelli, founder, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors Inc.; Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.; Franco Nuschese, president of Georgetown Entertainment Group LLC; Steve Perillo, president and owner of Perillo Tours; Alfred M. Rotondaro, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former NIAF executive director; and Josephine J. (Gargiulo) Templeton, M.D., trustee of the John Templeton Foundation.

Caruso began his career with PriceWaterhouse & Co. in Philadelphia as a certified public accountant. He then joined LFC Financial Corporation and served as the company’s executive vice president and director. He founded a number of companies, including Integra LifeSciences in 1989. Caruso built Integra by acquiring unused technology from other companies to create a new branch of medicine known as regenerative medicine. He is also the founder and director of The Uncommon Individual Foundation, which encourages others to become entrepreneurs.

In 2000, Caruso was the recipient of the New Jersey Entrepreneurial Leadership Award in Biomaterial Science. He received the Ernest & Young and Kauffman Foundation sponsored Greater Philadelphia Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his work with Integra LifeSciences Corporation in 2006.

His book, “Mentoring in the Business Environment,” was published by Dartmouth Publishing Co. Ltd. in 1992. Caruso received a Bachelor of Science from Susquehanna University, a Master of Science in business analysis from Bucknell University, and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.

Besides NIAF’s distinguished honorees, celebrities and entertainment take center stage during NIAF Gala Weekend to celebrate a milestone in its history. As part of NIAF’s lineup of celebrities, actors Danny Aiello, Chazz Palminteri and Annabella Sciorra; singer and songwriter Giada Valenti; performer Tom Sinatra; Twelve-time MLB All-Star Mike Piazza; The Washington Chorus; The Sicilian Tenors, Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale, will join Il Volo’s Piero Barone, Ignazio Boscetto and Gianluca Ginoble, as part of the weekend performances.

NIAF Board Member and Emmy Award-winning Fox News Anchor and Global Markets Editor Maria Bartiromo and SNL legend, NIAF Celebrity Ambassador, actor, entertainer and radio host Joe Piscopo will co-host one of the most popular galas in our nation’s capital. To open the weekend festivities on Friday evening, October 16, Piscopo and celebrity guests will celebrate Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday and honor the legacy of Sinatra with the crooner’s celebrated melodies from his songbook.

NIAF’s 40^th Anniversary Weekend is presented by Alitalia, the airline that brings the best of Italy to the world. Tickets to Saturday’s Gala begin at $400 per person. Young professional tickets cost $200 per person available only by phone. Tickets to Friday evening’s celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday cost $200 per person. Proceeds benefit NIAF’s educational programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact Jerry Jones at 202-387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org, or register online at https://www.niaf.org/40.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org.