FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is proud to announce that President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address at the 36th Anniversary Awards Gala on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW (Dupont Circle area).

The black-tie event begins with a 5 p.m. reception followed by dinner and an awards ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Washington Hilton’s International Ballroom.

Only media pre-credentialed for this event will be allowed entrance.

All media planning to attend Saturday’s Awards Gala MUST pre-register by Friday, October 28, at 3 p.m. EST. Those credentialed will be notified by noon on Saturday, October 29, with a detailed schedule for the evening.

If you are covering NIAF Convention events on Friday, October 28, please pick up your press badge and media kit at the NIAF Press Office.

To request media credentials, please contact Elissa Ruffino or Gina Ghilardi on Thursday at 202-939-3106 or 202-939-3116, or by email at elissa@niaf.org or gina@niaf.org; on Friday at 202-797-4817 at the NIAF Press Office.

The NIAF Press Office at the Washington Hilton is located in the Boundary Room, Terrace Level. The press office phone number is 202-797-4817. The press room closes promptly at 5 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Media Pre-set: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT (Media must enter the Washington Hilton at the T Street entrance next to the parking garage. Live trucks must be parked and cabled in and ALL Equipment must be dropped in the International Ballroom at the site by 4:30 p.m. Media will not have access to the site from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Sweep: 4:30- 6:30 p.m. EDT

Media Entrance: Terrace Lobby Entrance to the Washington Hilton, off of T Street. Media must take the escalator down one level to the International Ballroom entrance to go through security and get credentials, before entering the event space.

Media Access: 6:30 p.m. EDT
Final Access: 7:30 p.m. EDT (All members of the media must arrive before 7:30 p.m. EDT. Those who arrive after 7:30 p.m. EDT will NOT have access to cover the event).

During the gala, photographers will be able to take photos only from the area reserved for the media in the back of the ballroom.

Event Begins: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Live Truck Parking: Live trucks must park on Columbia Road next to the Washington Hilton, at Columbia Road and Connecticut Avenue.

Throw: 100 ft.
Cable Run: 500 ft.