FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino, 202-939-3106, elissa@niaf.org

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(WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 6, 2015)  Josephine J. (Gargiulo) Templeton M.D., trustee of the John Templeton Foundation, will be honored at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 40^th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.  Templeton will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Philanthropy on October 17, 2015, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park. The black-tie event begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner and an awards ceremony.

Honorees joining Templeton include Amato L. Berardi, founder of Berardi & Associates Inc., and former member of the Italian Parliament; Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., founder and director of Integra LifeSciences; Connie Francis, Italian American music legend; Mario Gabelli, founder, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors Inc.; Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and chairman of Ferrari S.p.A.; Franco Nuschese, president of Georgetown Entertainment Group LLC; Steve Perillo, president and owner of Perillo Tours; and Alfred M. Rotondaro, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former NIAF executive director.

Born in Capri, Italy, Templeton spent much of her early education in the United States and returned to Italy in 1961 to attend medical school. Upon her return to the United States for her post-graduate training at the Medical College of Virginia, she met her husband, John M. Templeton Jr. After a residency in anesthesiology at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology and critical care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she accompanied her husband to Virginia while he was stationed in the Navy. Templeton then returned to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia as senior clinical anesthesiologist. She retired from medicine in 1999.

Her involvement in philanthropic and community activities are numerous. She serves as a trustee of The John Templeton Foundation, and a member of the boards of Templeton Press, The Museum of American Revolution, and the Scholarship Foundation of the Union League of Philadelphia. She has served as a former board member of The Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opportunity International, and the Ladies Committee of the Salvation Army. Templeton was honored by the Salvation Army in 2005, and together with her husband, John, received the 2006 Heroes of Liberty Award by the National Liberty Museum.

Besides NIAF’s distinguished honorees, celebrities and entertainment take center stage during NIAF Gala Weekend to celebrate a milestone in its history. As part of NIAF’s lineup of celebrities, actors Danny Aiello, Chazz Palminteri and Annabella Sciorra; singer and songwriter Giada Valenti; performer Tom Sinatra; Twelve-time MLB All-Star Mike Piazza; The Washington Chorus; The Sicilian Tenors, Aaron Caruso, Elio Scaccio and Sam Vitale, will join Il Volo’s Piero Barone, Ignazio Boscetto and Gianluca Ginoble, as part of the weekend performances.

NIAF Board Member and Emmy Award-winning Fox News Anchor and Global Markets Editor Maria Bartiromo and SNL legend, NIAF Celebrity Ambassador, actor, entertainer and radio host Joe Piscopo will co-host one of the most popular galas in our nation’s capital. To open the weekend festivities on Friday evening, October 16, Piscopo and celebrity guests will celebrate Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday and honor the legacy of Sinatra with the crooner’s celebrated melodies from his songbook.

NIAF’s 40^th Anniversary Weekend is presented by Alitalia, the airline that brings the best of Italy to the world. Tickets to Saturday’s Gala begin at $400 per person. Young professional tickets cost $200 per person available only by phone. Tickets to Friday evening’s celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100^th birthday cost $200 per person. Proceeds benefit NIAF’s educational programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact Jerry Jones at 202-387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org, or register online at https://www.niaf.org/40.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org.