FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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(WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 16, 2015)  Amato L. Berardi, founder of Berardi & Associates Inc., and founder of Berardi & Associates Inc., and former member of the Italian Parliament, will be honored at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) 40^th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.  Berardi will receive the NIAF 40^th Anniversary Award for Leadership and Service 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 Berardi include Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., founder and director of Integra LifeSciences; Mario Gabelli, founder, chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors, Inc.; Connie Francis, Italian American music legend; 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; Alfred M. Rotondaro, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former NIAF executive director; and Josephine J. (Gargiulo) Templeton M.D., trustee of the John Templeton Foundation.

Born in Longano, Italy, Berardi founded Berardi & Associates Inc. in 1983, a Philadelphia-based insurance company. In 2008, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Italy’s Parliament as a representative of Italian citizens living abroad in North and Central America.

Berardi also serves as president of the National Italian American Political Action Committee and is co-founder of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia.

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; 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..