FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT: NIAF 27th Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner

SPONSOR: The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)

WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 2002
6:00 P.M. reception, 7:00 P.M. dinner

WHERE: The Hilton Washington & Towers
1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
(202/483-3000202/483-3000)

The NIAF gala awards dinner is one of the premier annual events in Washington, DC, attracting more than 3,000 people from throughout the country and abroad. Traditionally, the event has been attended by every U.S. President since 1975. Members of the Italian American Congressional Delegation,and Italian American leaders in business, sports, entertainment and the arts are expected at the event.

The Year 2002 NIAF Honorees are:
Paul Chiapparone, vice chairman of Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
Robert De Niro, actor, director, and producer
Christina Johnson, president & CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue
Sophia Loren, actress
Thomas (Tommy) D. Mottola, chairman & CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Robert Nardelli, chairman, president and CEO of The Home Depot

De Niro and Loren will be inducted into the NIAF’s Italian American Hall of Fame for their work in the entertainment industry.

Dick Grasso, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) chairman and NIAF vice chairman, is this year’s dinner chairman. Andrea Bocelli, acclaimed Italian tenor, will be among the many celebrities attending the dinner.

During the Gala Awards weekend, the NIAF will also feature conferences, exhibits, the traditional celebrity luncheon and auction, and a seminar on tourism. At a Friday conference, attendees will view a piece of American history when the Declaration of Independence Road Trip makes a stop at the NIAF’s annual convention. The Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, this year’s sponsoring region from Italy, will host a wine and food tasting event.

Dinner tickets begin at $350 each. Proceeds from the event benefit the NIAF Scholarship and Education Programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact: Michael Sanzi at 202/387-0600202/387-0600 or michael@niaf.org