FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Washington, DC – October 25, 2004) Country-music star Tim McGraw, who received the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Special Achievement Award in Music, headed this year’s list of honorees at the Foundation’s 29th Anniversary Gala held October 16 at the Hilton Washington & Towers. McGraw was joined by legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti; Carmella LaSpada, founder of No Greater Love and executive director of The White House Commission on Remembrance; and Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings Limited.

Baseball legend Yogi Berra presented the NIAF award to McGraw. Joseph Volpe, general manager of The Metropolitan Opera inducted Pavarotti into the NIAF Italian American Hall of Fame in Music. Major General Raymond T. Odierno, whose U.S. Army division captured Saddam Hussein, presented LaSpada with the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Humanitarian Service. Senator Bill Bradley presented Plumeri with the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.

Singers Faith Hill and Jo Dee Messina, NFL legend Franco Harris, comedian Fred Travalena, actor Giancarlo Giannini, and CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo and Ron Insana joined the gala honorees that evening. Entertainer Tony Danza was the master of ceremonies.

The NIAF gala opened with a tribute to the late Christopher Reeve, who, along with his wife Dana Morosini Reeve, received NIAF’s “One America Award” in 2001.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell addressed the 3,000 guests by thanking Italy and Italians for being “steadfast partners in the cause of freedom.” He also recounted a childhood memory growing up in the Bronx and learning much from Italian American mentors.

NIAF Chairman Frank J. Guarini introduced one of Italy’s highest ranking politicians, Hon. Franco Frattini, minister of foreign affairs. Frattini spoke of Italy’s role in helping the U.S. fight terrorism.

U.S. Congressmen John Mica, and Charlie Rangel were joined by Patricia de Stacy Harrison, assistant secretary of State; Frank Libutti, undersecretary, Department of Homeland Security; Janet Napolitano, governor of Arizona; Giovanni Prezioso, general counsel, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Anthony Principi, secretary of Veterans Affairs; Hon. Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice; Hon. Peter Secchia, former U.S. ambassador to Italy; Hon. Sergio Vento, Italian ambassador to the U.S.; and General Anthony C. Zinni, former U.S. Envoy to the Middle East.

This year the NIAF awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to students across the U.S. and Italy. At the gala, scholarship recipient Roberto Iarussi sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The NIAF also announced two new scholarships in honor of the late James Cantalupo, former McDonald’s chairman and CEO; and Jack Valenti, former president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Recognizing the younger generation, NIAF organized its eighth-annual youth gala which attracted nearly 300 young Americans of Italian descent from 25 states. Blind Olympic athlete and motivational speaker Rich Ruffalo was honored at the NIAF Youth Gala for his achievements in public speaking, education, and athletics. Afterwards, the young adults, along with many gala attendees, enjoyed a post-gala dessert buffet, coffee and dancing.

The NIAF 2004 Gala capped-off the Foundation’s two-day annual convention (October 15-16), the largest formal annual gathering of Italian Americans in the country. On Friday, October 15, Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve, addressed prominent Italian American executives during a private luncheon on “The Current Status of Oil Reserves,” which was followed by an economic briefing with White House officials. The session was chaired by Angelo R. Mozilo, NIAF treasurer and chairman and CEO of Countrywide Credit Industries Inc. Antonella Albano of Naples, Fla, received the second annual NIAF Teacher of the Year Award during the Friday education luncheon.

Weekend conferences included: Italian Americans and the 2004 Presidential Election; Milestones of the Italian American Experience; Discovering Italy Through its Food and Wine; and Children of the Greats.

The NIAF gala weekend also included the traditional celebrity auction and luncheon. Italy’s region of The Marches hosted a luncheon featuring White Truffles from the town of Acqualagna. Representatives from the region of Campania participated in the conferences. Proceeds from the event benefit the NIAF scholarship and education programs.