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National Italian American Foundation 34th Anniversary Gala Awards Weekend List (Partial)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

National Italian American Foundation 34th Anniversary Gala Awards Weekend List (PARTIAL)
October 24, 2009—Washington, D.C.

2009 NIAF Gala Honorees:
• Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, philanthropist and Public Television cooking show host, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service
• Massimo d’Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business
• Carla Gugino, actor from the film “The Watchmen” and in the HBO series “Entourage,” will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Entertainment
• Hon. Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will receive a NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service
• Antonello Venditti, renowned Italian singer and songwriter, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Music

Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” will emcee the Foundation’s annual black-tie gala.

Gala Weekend Attendees:
Hon. Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Supreme Court Justice
Robert B. Aderholt, Congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives (AL-4)
Hon. John Barrasso, U.S. Senator, Wyoming
Maria Bartiromo, CNBC Anchor
Hon. Amato Berardi, U.S. Representative of the Chamber of Deputies
Connie Britton, Actress, NBC’s show “Friday Night Lights”
Hon. Mike Capuano, Congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives (MA-8)
Vinny Cerrato, Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Washington Redskins
Hon. Gianni Chiodi, President of the Region of Abruzzo
Hon. Gianni DeGennaro, Director of the Italian Intelligence Agency
Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Congresswoman of the U.S. House of Representatives (CT-3)
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
Hon. Louis Freeh, Former Director of the FBI
Federico Gardaphe, White House Writer
Daniel R. Glickman, Chairman and CEO of the MPAA
Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Hon. Ignazio La Russa, Italy’s Minister of Defense
George LeMieux, U.S. Senator, Florida
Hon. Antonio Manganelli, Italy’s National Chief of Police
Alyssa Mastromonaco, Director of Scheduling and Advance, The White House
Jim Messina, Deputy Chief of Staff, The White House
Hon. John Mica, Congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives (FL-7)
Hon. Dan Mongiardo, Lieutenant Governor, State of Kentucky
Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
General Peter Pace, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Sal Paolantonio, ESPN National Correspondent
Hon. Bill Pascrell, Jr., Co-chairman of the Italian American Congressional Delegation (NJ-8)
Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Dana Perino, Former White House press secretary
Mark Perriello, Director of Priority Placement, The White House
Tony Reali, Host of ESPN’s “Around the Horn”
Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and CEO of WETA
Mike Rizzo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Washington Nationals
Hon. Linda Sanchez, Congresswoman of the U.S. House of Representatives (CA-39)
Hon. Steve Scalise, Congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives (LA-1)
Dan Tangherlini, Assistant Secretary for Management at the Department of Treasury
Dan Tarullo, Federal Reserve Board of Directors
H.E. Giuliomaria Terzi di Sant’Agata, Ambassador of Italy to the United States
Hon. David R. Thorne, U.S. Ambassador to Italy
Hon. Pat Tiberi, Co-chairman of the Italian American Congressional Delegation (OH-12)