FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

MEDIA ADVISORY

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Bergamo 2003 Gala Dinner is a celebration of the business, political and cultural ties between Italy and the United States. Prominent Italian and Italian American business executives and government officials are among the special guests attending the dinner.

The NIAF Bergamo 2003 Gala Honorees are:

Giuseppe Guzzetti, president, Associazione Casse di Risparmio Italiane

Roberto Sestini, chairman, Bergamo Chamber of Commerce

Beatrice Trussardi, president, Trussardi SpA

The NIAF gala dinner is held in conjunction with the June 19 NIAF Bergamo business conference,Perspectives on the Current US/ European Business Relations in a Challenging Economy, at the Centro Congressi Giovanni XXII in Bergamo, chaired by Dick Grasso, New York Stock Exchange chairman & CEO and NIAF vice chairman. The conference begins at 9:00 AM with two round table discussions: Issues, Corporate Regulations, Governance and Security and Italy, the U.S. and Europe: Finance, Investments and Trade. A luncheon is scheduled at 12:30 PM between the two panel discussions.