FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Natalie Wulderk
nwulderk@niaf.org
+1-202-939-3117

(Washington, D.C. – March 12, 2020) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will suspend its public events now through June. As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases increase day after day, it is crucial that the Foundation follows the guidelines issued by Government Authorities that non-essential mass gatherings should be postponed or cancelled.

“For the safety of our guests and members, their friends and families, we are hitting the ‘pause’ button on all NIAF events for the next four months,” said NIAF Chairman Patricia de Stacy Harrison. “In the interim, working with NIAF’s Board of Directors, and leaders from the United States and Italy we will be looking at the appropriate time when we can safely reschedule these important opportunities to strengthen our Italian heritage. We urge everyone to heed the advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who urged  that those vulnerable to the virus should limit travel and crowd exposure.”

In that spirit, the following NIAF events are postponed.

March 25, 2020
Government Affairs Lunch Forum, Capitol Hill—Celebrating Italian American Women in Government and Government Affairs.

April 21, 2020
New York Gala, Cipriani

May 19, 2020
The Mark Valente III Memorial Congressional Bocce Ball Tournament, Washington, D.C.

May 26—June 6, 2020
The 2020 Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery trip to Italy. Students who were accepted into the program for this year will receive further details from NIAF’s Director of Special Programs.

June 1—6, 2020
The NIAF Board of Directors Mission to Italy and Board Meeting postponed until September.

The Foundation will wait for further guidance from Government Authorities on when to reschedule postponed events. We will keep you updated via email, on our website and our social media channels.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting the Italian American heritage and culture. To learn more about the Foundation and become a member, please visit www.niaf.org.