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Hollywood Celebrities To Present NIAF Scholarships at Italian American Gala in NYC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


 

** Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Vic Damone
& Stanley Tucci to Award Students **

(WASHINGTON, DC– May 29, 2002) Actors Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Vic Damone & Stanley Tucci will present the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) scholarships in their names to young Italian American students at the Foundation’s East Coast Gala, Thursday evening, May 30 at the Hilton New York in New York City. The black tie fund-raising event for the NIAF’s scholarship and education programs will begin with a reception and silent auction at 6 p.m. followed by dinner. This year’s gala dinner is sponsored in part by the Region of Umbria in Italy.

NIAF scholarships will be awarded to: Sara Covelli of Baldwin, NY who attends Nassau Community College; Caitlin Franco of Stoney Brook, NY, a student at SUNY Stony Brook; Joseph Grogan of Hoboken, NJ who attends Stevens Institute of Technology; and Salvatore Pallante of Staten Island, NY, a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

During the awards gala, the NIAF will salute the following prominent industry leaders as this year’s honorees: Frank Grazioso, attorney-at-law & former NIAF general counsel; Tony Matarazzo, president of CWA Local # 1109, Brooklyn; Bill Parrett, managing partner, Deloitte & Touche; Frank Pellegrino, co-owner, Rao’s Restaurant and Frank Petrilli, president & COO, TD Waterhouse.

NYFD Chief Daniel Nigro; Mrs. Kathleen Ganci, widow of NYFD Chief Peter J. Ganci Jr. and her family, Minister Giorgio Radicati, Italy’s consul general in New York City; Roberto Luongo, Italian Trade Commissioner; and Gay Talese, writer, are among the prominent Italian Americans attending the NIAF’s East Coast Gala.

NYSE Chairman and NIAF Vice Chairman Dick Grasso will present two awards during the dinner. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening is Ron Insana, co-anchor CNBC Business Center.

Dinner tickets are $250.00 per person. To purchase, contact: Michael Sanzi at 202/387-0600202/387-0600 or michael@niaf.org.