NIAF Announces Gala Honorees… More to Come in Future Weeks!
NIAF’s Convention Weekend and 33rd Anniversary Gala on October 17-18, 2008 promises to be the best in the history of our organization.
This year’s honorees include president of Aetna Mark T. Bertolini; legendary actress Gina Lollobrigida; president and CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. Joseph DePinto; CEO of the Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle and CEO of Autogrill S.p.A. Gianmario Tondato da Ruos. We also anticipate the attendance of the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates; additional honorees and special guests will be announced shortly.
Held at the Hilton Washington & Towers in Washington, D.C., the convention weekend also will be attended by a variety of NIAF-affiliated Italian American groups, including the National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA) and UNICO National.
If you were with us last year, you joined some notable friends including: former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Ellen Pompeo of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” Connie Stevens, Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, Yogi Berra, Dion, General Peter Pace, Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito Jr., Susan Lucci, Tony LoBianco, Dick Vermeil, Vince Papale, Jerry Vale and Maria Bartiromo.
As you know, the NIAF annual anniversary celebration is part of a two-day convention in the nation’s capital featuring special receptions, entertainment and conferences. Highlights from this year’s convention and gala weekend include:
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Piazza d’Italia, a two-day Best of Italy exposition, held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, October 17 and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 18.
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A variety of interesting conferences, including “The Presidential Candidates’ Perspectives on the Future of Healthcare in America” on Friday, October 17, from 2:30-4 p.m. in addition to “Energy: American’s Challenge of the 21st Century” and “From Dante to Benigni: Italian Language and Culture in America’s Schools,” both held on Saturday, October 18 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
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NIAF’s annual “Salute to the Martini” on Friday, October 17 featuring surprise entertainment.
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An NCN Ambassador and Youth Networking Breakfast from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, October 18.
Your participation guarantees that NIAF will continue to help our young people with their higher education, mentor programs, youth retreats and other efforts to instill a sense of pride in their wonderful heritage. You will also be supporting our Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery student program in Italy and our Students to Leaders program helping young Italian Americans develop effective leadership skills.
Your registration for the October NIAF Gala will ensure your attendance at one of the premier annual events in the nation. If your plans change, you may cancel your reservation up to 10 days prior to the dinner with a full refund.
Register for your seats online today!
Additionally, book your room today as part of NIAF’s special room block at the Hilton Washington & Towers.
For more information about the NIAF gala, please visit www.niaf.org.
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Destination: Calabria
It’s not too late to book a trip to the Region of Calabria through NIAF’s latest Heritage Tour. This nine-day, seven-night tour departs New York City to visit the cities of Altomonte, Capo Vaticano, Catanzaro, Crotone, Gerace, Locri, Paola, Pizzo Calabro, Reggio Calabria, Tropea, and Vibo Valentia.
Costs range from $1,899 to $2,449 per person, based on double occupancy and month of departure. Participants may choose from 25 departure dates ranging from September 15, 2008 through June 15, 2009.
For more information, visit the NIAF Web site or click here.
For a brochure and reservation form, write to Italy Travel, c/o Unitours, 3010 Westchester Avenue, Purchase, NY 10557. Call toll-free at 888-846-6423 or 914-253-9177, fax to 914-253-9001, or e-mail Marianna Pisano at mpisano@unitours.com.
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Destination: Tuscany
NIAF is also proud to announce a trip to the Region of Tuscany, also available through NIAF’s Heritage Tour program. This nine-day trip departs from New York City and offers weekly departures starting in February 2009. Costs range from $1,999 to $2,499 per person.
Tour-goers will visit Tuscany, Florence, Lucca/Pisa, San Gimignano and Volterra, Siena and Cortona.
For a brochure and reservation form, write to Italy Travel, c/o Unitours, 3010 Westchester Avenue, Purchase, NY 10557. Call toll-free at 888-846-6423 or 914-253-9177, fax to 914-253-9001, or e-mail Marianna Pisano at mpisano@unitours.com.
For more information, click here.
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Mark your calendars!
 It’s not too early to plan to attend the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational golf tournament on Feb. 19-21, 2009. Held at Indian Wells Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif., the event benefits the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Medical Center.
Each year, celebrities, amateur contestants, loyal sponsors and enthusiastic spectators from all over the country look forward to this event, which is known as “Frank’s little party in the desert.” Founded in 1988 by Frank and Barbara Sinatra, the event helps the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center continue to counsel the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and break the generational cycle that abuse perpetuates.
The event is a five player team gross and net scramble golf tournament offering three nights of parties at the nearby Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa.
For more information, visit www.franksinatragolf.org, call 1-800-FS-STARS, or for a registration form, click here.
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NIAF to present scholarship in Mario Batali’s name
Please join us as NIAF presents its first scholarship in chef Mario Batali’s name to an outstanding Italian American student of the culinary arts.
The wine-tasting and food event will include some of Mario’s celebrity friends and take place in New York City on October 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Tiro a Segno, a private Italian American club in the city. Business attire is requested.
The cost is $150 per person. To reserve a place, please mail the registration form to NIAF at 1860 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20009 or fax to (202) 387-7633.
For more information please contact Kristi Pappalardo at kristina@niaf.org.
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Franchi Foundation Hosts Concert
On September 6, the Sergio Franchi Music Foundation will host its 15th annual concert, “Connecticut Got Talent,” at the Franchi estate. The concert will feature the most talented young tenors and sopranos, featuring a 42-piece symphony orchestra conducted by Maestro Jeff Domoto.
Hosted by NIAF Board Member Eva Franchi, wife of Sergio Franchi, the concert will include performances by international heartthrob Alfio, soprano Georgia Fumanti from Tuscany, and tenor Mario Frangoulis from Greece. Other special guests include Matthew Lord, John Wilkerson, and Alex Bumpas, members of the Las Vegas-based 3 Red Neck Tenors.
The Sergio Franchi Foundation has gifted more than 400 scholarships to young tenors and sopranos across the globe. The Foundation operates under the National Italian American Foundation.
To purchase tickets, call 860-535-9429 or visit www.sergiofranchi.com.
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Hawaii celebrates Italian Film Festival
The Fifth Annual Cinema Italiano in Hawai’i Film Festival, the only festival providing contemporary current Italian film in Hawai’i, will be held from September 25-30, 2008. The event kicks off with the U.S. premiere of “Tutta La Vita Davanti,” a 2008 film by director Paolo Virzi, on Thursday, September 25 at the Doris Duke Theatre of the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
Virzi and actress Micaela Ramazzotti will attend, and will join special guest presenter Franco Amurri at the 8 p.m. screening on Thursday, September 25. Other films to be shown during the festival include “Ripremdimi,” “Giorni e Nuvole,” “Rosso Come Il Cielo,” “Notturno Bus,” and “Non Pensarci.”
For more information, visit www.cinemaitalianoinhawaii.org or call Margherita Balbo Parrent, president of the Friends of Italy Society of Hawai’i, at 808-282-9129.
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NIAF offers Wall of Honor plaques
 NIAF is pleased to announce there are still opportunities available to purchase a plaque on the Italian American Wall of Honor.
As a part of the grand entry at NIAF’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Italian American Wall of Honor serves as the only designated tribute in the nation's capital to Italian Americans.
You can participate by recognizing parents, grandparents, loved ones, or simply your family name. Each Wall of Honor contributor will receive an engraved brass plate on the Wall, an official certificate recognizing your contribution, and acknowledgment in the NIAF 33rd Anniversary Gala Journal, which will be published in October 2008.
Your contribution is tax-deductible and all proceeds benefit NIAF education and scholarship funds as well as other important programs.
To participate, click here to download the “Wall of Honor” form. For more information, contact Rebecca Bartello at 202-669-5824 or rebecca@niaf.org. You can also learn more about the National Italian American Foundation by visiting www.niaf.org
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NIAF launches Bequest Recognition Society
NIAF is pleased to introduce a program tailored especially for our constituents interested in estate planning. Among our many philanthropic giving opportunities, the NIAF Gift for Tomorrow Bequest Recognition Society provides our supporters with the opportunity to be among a select group who wish to recognize NIAF in their estate, while giving NIAF the opportunity to recognize their generosity.
There is no cost to become a member and no minimum pledge required. Your Bequest Recognition Society membership will remain completely confidential if you prefer and is non-binding should your estate plans change. All we ask is that you complete an application to inform NIAF of your estate intentions.
In return, NIAF will provide you with recognition, invite you and a guest to private society events and receptions, and provide honorable mention listing you as a society member in our gala journal, newsletters and publications.
For more information about the NIAF Bequest Recognition Society, contact Michael J. Sanzi at 202-939-3105 or michael@niaf.org.
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Voyage of Discovery Challenge Grant Drive
During NIAF’s 32nd Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Peter F. Secchia announced a “Challenge Grant” – a two-to-one matching drive in cooperation with NIAF Board Member Perpetuus Lee Rizzuto – to raise money for the Foundation’s Voyage of Discovery Program.
The program, which is named in Secchia’s honor, provides college students with the rare opportunity to strengthen their Italian American identity through immersion in Italy’s culture and countryside. This all-expenses-paid program includes round-trip airfare between the United States and Italy in addition to 10 days of educational programs.
NIAF’s Challenge Grant Drive will ensure that the Voyage of Discovery Program continues in perpetuity. We ask for your support.
For more information, contact Michael J. Sanzi at 202-939-3105 or michael@niaf.org.
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