(Washington, DC- May 4, 2010) Bruno Mascolo, CEO and co-founder of international hair carebusiness TONI&GUY, will receive a National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Special Achievement Award in Business and the Arts at NIAF’s Texas Gala on May 15, 2010. The event will be held at the historic Adolphus hotel and features a 6 p.m. cocktail reception followed by a silent auction, awards program and dinner.

Gaetano Mascolo, brother of Bruno and also a co-founder of TONI&GUY, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement in Business and the Arts, posthumously.

The Mascolo family immigrated to the United Kingdom in the mid-1950s from Scafarti, Italy. In 1963, TONI&GUY was founded in London by brothers Giuseppe and Gaetano Mascolo. Younger brothers Bruno and Anthony later joined the U.K.-based hairdressing company.

Bruno Mascolo, CEO and co-founder of international hair care business TONI&GUY

In 1985 Gaetano (Guy) and Bruno moved to Dallas to establish TONI&GUY as the most innovative chain of salons and to expand their professionalproduct line. The U.S. branch included TIGI Linea, the products division including Bed Head, S-factor, Catwalk, Bed Head cosmetics and Hardcore appliances. TIGI Linea expanded into the global market in 2005 and sold to Unilever in March of 2009. Bruno Mascolo now heads up the North AmericanTONI&GUY, Salon and Academy divisions.

Bruno Mascolo also established an artistic team to travel throughout the U.S. and Europe. In 2001 TONI&GUY’s artistic team was inducted in theBritish Hairdressing Hall of Fame. In 2005 Bruno Mascolo received the prestigious North America Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) Hall of Leaders Award.

Several notable Italian Americans will join Mascolo as this year’s honorees.Jay Lombardo, president and CEO of Lombardo Custom Apparel, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Fashion; Mike Modano, Stanley Cup Champion and seven-time NHL All-Star for the Dallas Stars, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Sports; and Victor “Vic” Salvino, dealer principal of Texas Kenworth Co., will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service.

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura W. Bush will serve as honorary patrons of NIAF’s TexasGala.

Joe DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc., will serve as the gala dinner chairman. DePinto received a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business at the Foundation’s 2008 Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., and is a member of the NIAF Board of Directors. DePinto will be joined Daniel A. DeMatteo, CEO and director of Gamestop Corporation, as well as prominent Italian and Italian-American business leaders, sports executives and community leaders.

Dinner tickets: $250-$1,000 per person. Attire: Cocktail. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Geri Jones at 202/387-0600, jerry@niaf.org or visit www.niaf.org/texas.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of Italian Americans. www.niaf.org