FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli and Ronald P. Spogli

(Washington, D.C.—February 15, 2006) Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli, chairman of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), was chosen by President George W. Bush to join the White House Delegation for the February 26th closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

The Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, will lead President Bush’s delegation. Ciongoli and Giuliani will be joined by Ronald P. Spogli, U.S. ambassador to Italy, andMario Andretti, world champion race car driver.

“I am truly honored to be part of the Presidential delegation with such distinguished Italian Americans,” Ciongoli, said.<br.
The NIAF is very proud of Dr. Ciongoli, a distinguished neurologist in Burlington, Vermont. In March he will be honored as “Man of the Year” in Palm Beach at The Breakers by Il Circolo Foundation.

The NIAF is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to preserving the heritage of an estimated 25 million Americans of Italian descent. Visit our website at:www.niaf.org