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Nicolas Cage To be Inducted into Italian American Hall of FameFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org
*Jack Valenti to introduce Cage*
** Garry Marshall & Enzo Torresi to be Honored**
(LOS ANGELES, CA – March 22, 2002) Actor Nicolas Cage, will be the first inductee into the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) new “Italian American Hall of Fame” at the Foundation’s West Coast Gala Dinner, Thursday evening, May 2 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The fundraising event will begin with a reception and silent auction at 6 PM followed by dinner.Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association, will present Nicolas Cage with the award. In 1994, Cage received a NIAF Special Achievement Award in the Performing Arts at the NIAF Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, DC.
Additionally, TV Producer/Director and Movie Writer Garry Marshall and Enzo Torresi, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and managing partner of the venture capital company myQube USA, will join Cage. Marshall will receive a NIAF Career Achievement Award. Torresi will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Technology.
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.