FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

EVENT: Tommy Lasorda to Address Public Policy Lecture Series

SPONSOR: National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)

WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 2005
Lecture: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Post reception: 7:30 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: University of Southern California
Annenberg School of Communications
In the Annenberg Auditorium
Post reception in the Annenberg East Lobby

Baseball legend Tommy Lasorda will address members of the academic community and prominent Italian American leaders in business and government at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Public Policy Lecture Series at the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California, Thursday evening, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is hosted by the dean of the Annenberg School of Communications, Geoff Cowan.

Lasorda will discuss the timely issue of steroids and enhancement drugs in Major League Baseball.

After a brief career as a pitcher, Lasorda became one of the most enthusiastic and successful managers in baseball history. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, he led the Los Angeles Dodgers to eight division titles and two World Championships in 21 seasons as manager. Lasorda currently serves as Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Dodgers, and his association with the club has spanned seven decades. He also managed the United States to its first-ever gold medal in baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Prominent individuals who recently addressed the popular NIAF Public Policy Lecture Series include: Nicholas Calio, former White House director of legislative affairs; Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve; General Raymond Odierno, Joint Chiefs of Staff; John Podesta, former White House chief of staff; Giovanni Prezioso, general counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA); and General Anthony Zinni, former U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East.

The NIAF Public Policy Lecture Series assembles nationally and internationally known experts to address important policy issues facing our nation and the world. The lecture series also provides a venue for an open exchange of ideas and an opportunity for a diverse array of perspectives to be heard.
Press Contacts: Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org
Dan Witzling (Cerrell Associates) 323/466-3445, dan_w@cerrell.com

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.