FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(WASHINGTON, DC – May 3, 2004) U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, will be the guest of honor at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) first New England gala on Saturday evening, May 22 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, Mass. The black-tie gala begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Justice Scalia is the first Italian American to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court. Scalia was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1986. That year, he was honored at the Foundation’s anniversary gala with a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Public Service, and has since moderated NIAF conferences held in conjunction with the Foundation’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. His father, S. Eugene Scalia, emigrated from Sicily at age 15.

Salvatore A. Balsamo, chairman of TAC Worldwide Companies in Dedham, Mass. and NIAF regional vice president, is the dinner chairman. He will be joined by Thomas M. Menino, mayor of Boston, Honorable Sergio Vento, Italy’s ambassador to the United States, and prominent Italian Americans in business, politics and law.

In conjunction with the May 22 NIAF New England Gala, the Foundation will launch the NIAF International Law Institute at Harvard Law School that same day to foster a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities legal professionals face in the international world. The Law Institute luncheon and plenary session will be held at 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Michael S. Greco, president-elect of the American Bar Association (ABA), and Giovanni Prezioso, general counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are some of the prominent speakers at the event. Ambassador Vento will also be joined by prominent Washington, D.C. attorney Frank Razzano, who will chair the new Institute.

For further information regarding the NIAF gala, contact Bonnie Cellini at 202/939-3114 or bonni@niaf.org For more information on the NIAF International Law Institute, contact Kristina Pappalardo at 202/939-3109 or Kristina@niaf.org

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation dedicated to promoting the contributions of Italian Americans. The Foundation has a wide-range of programs that provide scholarships and grants, legislative internships in Congress, conferences and cultural seminars. Visit our website at www.niaf.org