FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

EVENT: John Podesta to Address Public Policy Lecture Series

John Podesta, president and chief executive officer of the Center for American Progress and former White House Chief of Staff, will be the keynote speaker at the launching of the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Public Policy Lecture Series on Thursday, March 31 at Columbia University.

Mr. Podesta will speak about the timely issue of health care to members of the academic community and prominent Italian American leaders in business and government.

The NIAF Public Policy Lecture Series was made possible through an endowment from Vincent Viola, former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and NIAF vice chairman. The series, held at college campuses around the nation, will showcase Italian Americans at the highest levels discussing their respective areas of expertise in public policy.

The NIAF Public Policy Lecture Series allows for greater visibility of prominent Italian Americans to America’s youth and to the academic community. It also provides a non-partisan forum where the Foundation can contribute to public discourse on contemporary issues facing the nation.

To confirm attendance, contact: John Marino, 202-939-3115 or jmarino@niaf.org.

NIAF, an independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian, not-for profit foundation, offers this program in order to contribute to the public discourse on current topics of the day. NIAF does not necessarily endorse or oppose the positions and/or remarks of any of the program’s participants.