FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

*Danny DeVito, Bill Rancic, Lidia Bastianich, Mike Piazza at Gala*

(WASHINGTON, D.C.— October 20, 2010) Giuliana DePandi Rancic, anchor and managing editor of E! News and star of the Style Network show “Giuliana & Bill,” will serve as emcee at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 35th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2010 at the Washington Hilton. The event begins with a 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner and an awards ceremony.

Danny DeVito, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor and a recipient of the Foundation’s 1993 Special Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment, will present one of the evening’s awards. DeVito, Giuliana and her husband, Bill Rancic, will be joined by Lidia Bastianich, noted chef, Mike Piazza, 12-time MLB all-star and actors Michael Badalucco, Dion, Linda Fiorentino, Joe Pantoliano, Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Annabella Sciorra at the black-tie gala.

The year’s NIAF gala honorees include Dott. Fulvio Conti, CEO of ENEL S.p.A.; Aurelio De Laurentiis, Italian film producer and president of SSC Napoli soccer club; Tom Izzo, head coach of men’s basketball at Michigan State University; Christopher J. Nassetta, president & CEO of Hilton Worldwide; Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; and Joe Uva, president and CEO of Univision Communications, Inc.

Giuliana Rancic is an entertainment journalist, fashion and beauty expert and television personality with over 2 million followers on Twitter. She is the co-anchor of E! News alongside Ryan Seacrest and is the co-star of E!’s hugely popular Fashion Police team alongside Joan Rivers.

She’s been on the red carpet for every mega-event in the entertainment industry (Oscars, Grammy Awards, Golden Globes) interviewing the stars and getting breaking Hollywood scoop as well as fashion tips, diet and fitness advice, travel tips and all things pop culture. She is watched by millions each week on both E! and the Style Network on her hit reality show, Giuliana & Bill.

Her new book, I Do, Now What?, was released September, 2010 by Random House Publishing Group. Giuliana co-authored the book with her husband, Bill.

Born in Naples, Italy, she moved to Washington, D.C., at age seven and later realized her dream to become a broadcast journalist. She received a bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Maryland and a masters of arts in journalism from American University. As a student, she worked in hard news reporting from Capitol Hill, The Pentagon and The State Department. After graduation she moved to Los Angeles to cover entertainment news.

The NIAF gala is one of the premier annual events in the nation’s capital, attracting more than 3,000 guests from the United States and Italy. In keeping with our tradition of hosting the president, President Barack Obama has been invited to attend.

Tickets to Saturday’s gala begin at $400 per person. Proceeds will benefit NIAF’s educational programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact Jerry Jones at 202/939-3102 or jerry@niaf.org, or register online at www.niaf.org.

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.