2012 NIAF Gala Honorees:

• Geno Auriemma, Head Coach of the Gold Medal-winning USA Basketball Women’s National Team and Head Woman’s Basketball Coach at the University of Connecticut, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Sports.
• Mark Del Rosso, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Audi of America, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.
• Giovanni Ferrero, Chief Executive Officer of The Ferrero Group, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in International Business.
• Ralph Izzo, Chairman, President and CEO of the Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG), will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Science and Technology.
• Letizia Moratti, President of Friends of San Patrignano, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Philanthropy.
• Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, the oldest science academy in the world, will receive NIAF Special Recognition for Academic Contributions.

During the evening Patricia de Stacy Harrison, a NIAF Vice Chair and President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will present Marco Simeon, Director of Government and International Relations at RAI, with NIAF Special Recognition for International Media Relations.

Twelve-time MLB All-Star Mike Piazza will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies. John F. Scarpa, NIAF Board Member, is the chair of the Gala Weekend.

Gala Weekend Attendees:
Hon. Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Supreme Court Justice
Adolfo Barattolo Italy’s Consul General in Miami
Hon. Amato Berardi U.S. Representative of the Chamber of Deputies
Hon. Claudio Bisogniero Italian Ambassador to the United States
Jerry Colangelo Chairman of the Board of USA Basketball
H.R.H. Beatrice de Bourbon des Deux Siciles House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
John DeGioia President of Georgetown University
Hon. Rosemary A. DiCarlo U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Dr. Anthony Fauci National Institute of Health
Hon. Giuseppe Galati President of Calabresi nel Mondo Foundation
Fabio International Italian fashion model, spokesperson and actor
Mauro Kolobaric Italy’s Consul General in Australia
Salvatore Mancuso Vice President of Alitalia
Fabrizio Nava Italy’s Consul General in Houston
Giuseppe Pastorelli Italy’s Consul General in Boston
Tony Reali ESPN Host of “Around the Horn”
Clarine Riddle Chief of Staff for Senator Lieberman
Hon. Giuseppe Scopelliti President of the Region of Calabria
H.E. Giuliomaria Terzi di Sant’Agata Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hope Solo Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist,Goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team
Monsignor Peter J. Vaghi Pastor of Little Flower Parish, Bethesda, Md.
Hon. Mauro Vieira Brazilian Ambassador to the United States
Carlo Maria Viganò Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
Brittany A. Viola U.S. Olympic Platform Diver