FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF)  202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – November 28, 2001) Race car legend Mario Andretti, Emmy Award winner Susan Lucci and actor/director John Turturro are among the celebrities attending the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) private reception immediately following Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s performance on Saturday evening, December 8th at Boardwalk Hall/Atlantic City Convention Center.

The post-dessert party hosted by the NIAF is for people who have purchased their premium concert tickets through the Foundation to benefit the NIAF/Bocelli Scholarship in Music. The NIAF has secured 150 of the best seats in the house, including select first row-seats. The concert is part of the Italian tenor’s Fall/Winter North America Tour.

The NIAF benefit concert and private reception package will sell for $500 per person, with the proceeds of $100 per person to benefit the NIAF/ Andrea Bocelli Scholarship. All seats are in the VIP section. A limited number of first row seats for $1,000 are available.

“We look forward to listening to one of the great tenors of our era, Andrea Bocelli,” said NIAF Chairman Frank J. Guarini. “Andrea has been a wonderful friend to our Foundation by giving a portion of the concert’s proceeds to a NIAF scholarship established in his name,” added Guarini.

In October 2000, Andrea Bocelli received the National Italian American Foundation’s U.S./Italy Friendship Award during the NIAF gala awards dinner in Washington, DC. President Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali and more than 3,100 prominent Italians and Italian American leaders in business, sports, entertainment, the professions, and government attended the dinner. Bocelli also performed via satellite with the Boccherino Institute Youth Orchestra from Lucca, Italy during the NIAF gala in honor of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary.

The VIP tickets with post-concert reception will be sold on a “first-come, first-served basis.” For tickets, contact: Michael Sanzi at michael@niaf.org