FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MEDIA ADVISORY

Event:   NIAF WEST COAST AWARDS GALA

When:   Thursday, May 2, 2002
6:00 PM Reception followed by Dinner at 7:00 PM

Where:   The Beverly Hilton Hotel
9876 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is hosting its second West Coast Gala in Los Angeles, which is a fundraiser for its scholarship and education programs.

• Nicolas Cage will be the first inductee into the NIAF’s new “Italian American Hall of Fame” for his work in the cinema. In 1994, Cage received a NIAF Special Achievement Award at that year’s Gala Award Dinner.
• Garry Marshall, producer, director and television and movie writer, will receive a NIAF Career Achievement Award.
• Enzo Torresi, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and managing partner of the venture capital company myQube USA, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Technology.

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association, will make the presentation to Nicolas Cage.

Dodger great Tommy Lasorda is the master of ceremonies.

Among the celebrities on the host committee are: Ernest Borgnine; Cher; Joe Mantegna; Bette Midler; Luciano Pavarotti;and Sylvester Stallone. Los Angeles attorney Thomas Girardi is the NIAF West Coast dinner chairman.

Dinner tickets are $250 to $1,000 based on table location. Proceeds from the event will benefit the NIAF scholarship and education programs. For tickets, contact Michael Sanzi at 202/387-0600 or michael@niaf.org