FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Elena Isella | NIAF
eisella@niaf.org
202-939-3108 (o)
412-596-5848 (c)

(Washington, D.C. – June 29, 2022) After a two-year, pandemic imposed, hiatus, the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation recently resumed its annual mission to Italy in grand fashion.

During the course of a nine-day trip between June 12th and June 21st the board visited both Abruzzo and Toscana, meeting the regions’ political and civic leaders in order to foster closer cultural and economic ties. In addition, the board stopped in Umbria to visit a school it funded in the earthquake ravaged town of Norcia.

The mission concluded with an intensive day in Rome where NIAF became the first Italian American organization accorded the privilege of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in homage to all those Italian servicemen and women who lost their lives in the defense of liberty. This rare honor, normally accorded to heads of state, was given to NIAF Chairman Robert E. Carlucci.

The board’s activities in Rome culminated with a gala at the Diplomats’ Club on the banks of the Tiber where more than 200 leaders of Italian officialdom including Ministers Giancarlo Giorgetti (Economic Development) and Mariastella Gelmini (Regional Affairs) and numerous parliamentarians were in attendance.  At the gala, Minister Plenipotentiary Luigi Maria Vignali of the Italian Foreign Ministry praised NIAF as “the most important association that unites Italians and Italian descendants in the United States.”

KEY VIDEO COVERAGE OF THE MISSION

Rome Activities-RAI STATE TELEVISION
Rome Activities-Sole 24 Ore
Rome Altare della Patria-Patrimonio TV
Abruzzo-Patrimonio TV

KEY PRINT AND ONLINE COVERAGE OF THE MISSION

ROME
Il Messaggero
L’Opinione delle Libertà
Vivere Roma
Adnkronos
Consul Press
Adnkronos
Affari Italiani
Avanti Online
7 Colli
La Gente d’Italia
Politicamente Corretto

ABRUZZO
Abruzzo Popolare
Giulia Nova News
Abruzzo Live
Il Denaro
MarsicaWeb
Il Pescara
Affari Italiani
Abruzzo Live
Consul Press
Certa Stampa
Vivere Roma
Ekuo News
Abruzzo News
Il Centro
City Pescara
Pescara Pescara
Virtù Quotidiane
L’Eco del Sud
Ekuo News
Consiglio Regione Abruzzo
Abruzzo News 24
Vivere Abruzzo
Padova News
AISE

TOSCANA & UMBRIA
Consul Press
Valnerina Oggi
Vivere Perugia
Toscana Notizie
Toscana in Diretta
Vivere Firenze
Il Denaro
In Toscana

About NIAF:
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting the Italian American heritage and culture. To learn more about the Foundation and become a member, please visit www.niaf.org.