FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

2013 NIAF Gala Honorees:

Diana Bracco, CEO and President of Bracco S.p.A., will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Philanthropy.

Roberto Colaninno, Chairman and CEO of Piaggio & C. S.p.A., will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in International Business.

Louis Donatelli, Founder and Chairman of Donatelli Development Inc., will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.

Leon Panetta, former CIA Director and former Secretary of Defense, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Government.

George Randazzo,, Founder and Chairman of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, will receive the NIAF Italian American Community Leadership Award.

Paul Sorvino, Award-winning actor and director, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Awards in Entertainment.

Maria Bartiromo, Emmy Award-winning journalist and CNBC Anchor, and comedian and actor Joe Piscopo will co-host and emcee together one of the largest black-tie galas in the nation’s capital.

This year’s gala will be chaired by NIAF Vice Chairman Louis J. Freeh, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and chairman of Pepper Hamilton LLP and Freeh Group Int’l Solutions.

Honorable Pietro Grasso, President of the Italian Senate, and Honorable Claudio Bisogniero, Italy’s Ambassador to the United States, will lead the Italian Delegation.

  

Samuel A. Alito Jr., Supreme Court Justice

Adolfo Barattolo, Italy’s Consul General in Miami

Lou Barletta, U.S. Congressman

Andrea Canepari, Italy’s Consul General in Philadelphia

Christina Carlucci, Actress and Singer, who will sing the U.S. national anthem

Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration

Paolo Catalfamo, Italy’s Consul General of the Republic of Mauritius

John Frances Coppola, Board Member of the National Museum and Library Service

H.R.H. Beatrice de Bourbon des Deux Siciles, House of Bourbon — Two Sicilies

Elisabetta Gardini, Italian member of The European Parliament

Michael Grimm, U.S. Congressman

Patricia de Stacy Harrison, NIAF Vice Chair, President/CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Clelia Di Rienzo, Italy’s Consul General in Newark

Jessica Firth, Miss District of Columbia

Mauro Kolobaric, Consul General from Australia in the United States

Francesca La Marca, U.S. Representative of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies

Maria Luisa Lapresa, Italy’s Consul General in Detroit

Tony Lo Bianco, Actor

Tom Marino, U.S. Congressman

Fulvio Martusciello, Minister of Productive Activities, Economic Development, Region of Campania

Andriano Monti, Italy’s Consul General in Chicago

Fabrizio Nava, Italy’s Consul General in Houston

Fucsia Angela Nissoli , U.S. Representative of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies

Giuseppe Pastorelli, Italy’s Consul General in Boston

Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives

Giuseppe Perrone, Italy’s Consul General in Los Angeles

Mike Piazza, Twelve-time MLB All-Star

John Porcari, Deputy Secretary of Department of Defense

Natalia Quintavalle, Italy’s Consul General in New York

Tony Reali, ESPN Host of “Around the Horn”

Giorgio Squinzi, Chairman of Confindustria

Pat Tiberi, U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair ofItalian American Congressional Delegation

Senator Renato Turano, U.S. Representative of the Italian Senate

Giada Valenti, Singer and songwriter, who will sing “Inno di Mameli,” Italy’s national anthem

Felice Zagaglia, Italy’s Vice Consul General in San Francisco