FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT:         Italian American Institutes Day 2002: Conferences & East Coast
Gala sponsored by The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
WHEN:         Thursday, May 30, 2002

WHERE:      The Hilton New York
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York City

As part of the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Dialogue Series on issues facing America today, the Foundation is presenting two conferences during its third annual Institutes Day. All conferences are free and open to the public.

9:30 AM – 11:30AM      The Role of Italian & Ethnic Studies Programs at American Universities
The seminar will examine the emerging field of ethnic studies programs at American colleges and universities and how they fit into the existing framework of a university curriculum.

Speakers include:

• Anthony Catanese, president, Florida Atlantic University
• Josephine Gattuso Hendrin, professor, English Department, New York University
• Roberto Severino, chair, Italian Department, Georgetown University
• Gay Talese, author

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM      Publish or Perish: The State of Ethnic Publishing in America
A discussion of what role the publishing industry plays today. Prominent writers will discuss current accomplishments in the industry and what remains to be completed to educate the public about our diverse nation.

Panelists include:

• Jay Parini, author & Axin Professor of Literature at Middlebury College
• Leonard Riggio, chairman, Barnes & Noble, Inc.
• Nan Talese, senior editor, Random House
• Bill Tonelli, editor of The Portable Italian-American, a collection which will be published later this year & assistant managing editor, Rolling Stone Magazine

To register for the conferences, contact: John Marino at 202/939-3115

NIAF East Coast Gala

Actors Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco, Vic Damone & Stanley Tucci to present NIAF scholarships in their names to young Italian American students at the gala. The Master of Ceremonies is Ron Insana, co-anchor, CNBC Business Center.
Time: 6:00 PM reception followed by dinner at 7:00 PM.

Honorees include:

• 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
• Frank Petrilli, president & COO, TD Waterhouse

Dinner tickets are $250.00 per person. Attire: Black Tie. To purchase, contact: Lisa Pittoco at 202/939-3116.