National Italian American Foundation

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage. NIAF serves as a resource on the Italian American community and has educational and youth programs including scholarships, grants, heritage travel and mentoring.

NIAF is also the voice for Italian Americans in Washington, D.C., and works closely with the Italian American Congressional Delegation

Italian American Congressional Delegation

- The Italian American Congressional Delegation :The bi-cameral and bi-partisan Italian American Congressional Delegation is composed of nearly 200 Members of Congress: twenty-nine who trace their ancestry to Italy and more than 150 Associate IACD Members who, although not Italian American, have...

and the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...

. NIAF’s mission includes advancing U.S. – Italy business, political and cultural relations. The Foundation also offers a business council that promotes networking with corporate leaders.

Through its many programs, NIAF:

• Provides scholarships and grants to Italian Americans nationwide

• Helps young Italian Americans with their educations and careers

• Works closely with Congress and the White House to promote the appointment of Italian Americans in government

• Encourages the teaching of Italian language and culture in U.S. schools

• Monitors the portrayal of Italian Americans by the news and entertainments industries

• Strengthens cultural and economic ties between Italy and the United States.

Every year, NIAF honors outstanding Italians and Italian Americans at its National Convention and Gala Weekend, which culminates with an annual Anniversary Gala Dinner. This event draws nearly 3,000 people from the United States and abroad to the nation’s capital.

2011 - NIAF Reception on Capitol Hill Celebrates Italy’s 150th Anniversary

Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi presented the Ambassador of Italy to the United States Hon. Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata with the Presidential Proclamation – 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy—at a National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Congressional Reception in the historic Mike Mansfield Room of the U.S. Capitol on March 17, 2011. President Barack Obama proclaimed March 17, 2011, as a day to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy and to honor the courage, sacrifice and vision of the patriots who founded the Italian nation.

Congressman Pat Tiberi, co-chairman of the Italian American Congressional Delegation of the 112th U.S. Congress, also presented Ambassador Terzi with the Congressional Proclamation honoring Italy and the legacy of Giuseppe Garibaldi. “We stand together, Italy and America, and enjoy a wonderful relationship with the people of Italy,” said Tiberi, who was joined by Senator Mike Enzi and Senator Mary Landrieu, Congressman Michael G. Grimm and Congressman Chip Cravaack.
At the podium, Ambassador Terzi spoke about receiving President Obama in Rome, Italy, and the sense of unity between our two nations that continues to inspire us all.

John F. Calvelli, NIAF secretary and a member of the Board, welcomed the guests to the private reception. He was joined by NIAF’s leadership including Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison, a NIAF vice chair, Hon. Anita Bevacqua McBride, a member of board and Dr. John P. Rosa, NIAF executive vice president. Also attending were John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, Anthony J. Principi, senior vice president of Pfizer Inc., Patricia Sarcone of Hewlett Packard, and NIAF council members and guests.

March 17, 2011 was proclaimed a national holiday throughout Italy by President Giorgio Napolitano to celebrate this historic milestone. Cities across the United States have scheduled activities to commemorate Italy’s unification.

The NIAF 2010 Convention and Gala Weekend

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) celebrated its 35th Anniversary with a Convention and Gala at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on October 22–23, 2010. The weekend’s events, culminating with a black-tie dinner, focused on youth and transmitting our Italian heritage to the next generation.

NIAF’s 2010 honorees included Dr. Fulvio Conti

Fulvio Conti

Fulvio Conti is an italian manager.He joined Enel in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer. As CEO he finalized the acquisition of the Slovak utility, Slovenkse Elektrarne and he successfully achieved the takeover of Endesa, the leading power company in Spain and Latin America as well as the takeover of...

, CEO of Enel S.p.A., who received the NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Business; film producer and president of Naples Soccer Club Aurelio De Laurentiis

Aurelio De Laurentiis

Aurelio De Laurentiis is a prominent Italian film producer, through his company, Filmauro. He is also the current chairman of his native Italian football club Napoli....

, who received the NIAF United States-Italy Friendship Award from his friend, actor Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito

Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...

; Tom Izzo

Tom Izzo

Tom Izzo is an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success....

, head men’s basketball coach at Michigan State University, who received a NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports; Christopher J. Nassetta, president & CEO of Hilton Worldwide, who received the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business; and Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief of the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, who received a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Science and Medicine. Additionally, Joe Uva, president and CEO of Univision Communications Inc., received the NIAF One America Award from Jim Walton

Jim Walton

James Carr Walton is the youngest son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and the Chairman of Arvest Bank.With an estimated net worth of around US$21.3 billion, Walton is currently ranked by Forbes as the 20th-richest person in the world....

, president of CNN Worldwide.

E! NEWS’s anchor and managing editor Giuliana DePandi Rancic served as Gala master of ceremonies and actor Robert Davi

Robert Davi

Robert John Davi is an American actor and singer. He has played such roles as Vietnam veteran and Special Agent Johnson in Die Hard, the villainous Jake Fratelli in The Goonies, and Al Torres in Showgirls...

entertained with a musical tribute to longtime NIAF member Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...

. Among the more than 3,000 VIPs and guests were famed chef Lidia Bastianich

Lidia Bastianich

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an American chef, author, and restaurateur....

, NIAF Vice Chairman and President and CEO for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting Patricia de Stacy Harrison, NIAF Chairman Jerry Colangelo

Jerry Colangelo

Jerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...

, MLB great Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza

Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....

, and actors Joe Pantoliano

Joe Pantoliano

Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...

, Michael Badalucco

Michael Badalucco

Michael Badalucco is an American actor most famous for his role as lawyer Jimmy Berluti on the ABC legal drama The Practice...

and Antonio Sabato Jr. Also attending were Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dion

Dion DiMucci

Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....

, actresses Linda Fiorentino

Linda Fiorentino

Linda Fiorentino is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Dogma, Vision Quest, Men in Black, After Hours and The Last Seduction.-Personal life:...

and Annabella Sciorra

Annabella Sciorra

Annabella Sciorra is an American film, television, and stage actress. Sciorra received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead for the 1989 film True Love, and came to widespread attention in her co-lead role in Spike Lee's 1991 film Jungle Fever...

, and ESPN’s “Around the Horn” host Tony Reali

Tony Reali

Anthony Joseph Paul "Tony" Reali is an American sports personality and television host, and the current host of Around the Horn on ESPN...

.

The Convention and Gala weekend featured conferences on health and education issues, Italian wine and food tastings and seminars, documentary film screenings, a two-day Expo Italia exhibiting foods and products of Italy, and NIAF’s annual silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the weekend’s activities benefited the Foundation’s educational and scholarship programs.

2010 – NIAF’s Initiative to Reinstate Advanced Placement Italian

Thanks to the efforts of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), working with the Embassy of Italy in Washington and the Italian American community, high school students will again be able to take the College Board’s AP Italian Language and Culture test during the 2011-2012 academic year.

The College Board suspended the AP Italian test in 2009 after deciding that it attracted only a fraction of the students who take AP tests in such popular subjects as U.S. History and English Literature. Students who score well on AP tests receive college credits and, as in the case of AP Italian, could satisfy language requirements at some colleges. So proponents were concerned that eliminating the AP Italian program would undermine growth of Italian language courses and the number of students interested in taking Italian in high schools nationwide.

When the College Board eliminated AP Italian, it gave supporters the opportunity to revive the tests by raising funds to support the underfunded program. NIAF took a leading role in rescuing the AP Italian program by issuing a $500,000 challenge grant that was followed by a $250,000 gift from former member of Congress and NIAF Chairman Emeritus the Hon. Frank J. Guarini.

Congressman Guarini has made the study of the Italian language and Italy’s rich culture a top priority since joining the NIAF Board of Directors in 1988. “Language opens the doors to its culture,” he said of the importance of preserving the study of Italian for the next generation. “Art, music, literature, science, fashion and architecture are born from it. With it, we are able to explore important business, government and commerce opportunities.”

In addition to placing a stronger emphasis on Italian in the Foundation’s scholarships and grant awards, NIAF, under Congressman Guarini’s leadership, introduced a number of educational programs, including: the Teacher of the Year Award in Italian; Italian Culture and Language Fellowships—a partnership with The Washington Post and the Embassy of Italy; Teach the Teachers Workshops at Harvard University; and Lago del Bosco, the first Italian language and culture immersion camp in the United States.

2009 – Post-Earthquake Abruzzo Relief

Following the April 6, 2009 earthquake

2009 L'Aquila earthquake

The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake occurred in the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy. The main shock occurred at 3:32 local time on 6 April 2009, and was rated 5.8 on the Richter scale and 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale; its epicentre was near L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, which together...

that destroyed much of Italy’s Abruzzo region, NIAF and the U.S. State Department entered into a public-private partnership to provide a generous American response.

While speaking to members of the press during a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano

Giorgio Napolitano

Giorgio Napolitano is an Italian politician who has been the 11th President of Italy since 2006. A long-time member of the Italian Communist Party and later the Democrats of the Left, he served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 1994 and as Minister of the Interior from 1996 to...

in Rome prior to the G-8 Summit in July 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

recognized the National Italian American Foundation’s support of reconstruction efforts in L’Aquila, a city devastated by an earthquake in Abruzzo. http://www.niaf.org/news/videos/obama-abruzzo/index.asp

Obama specifically noted joint efforts by the NIAF/State Department partnership to raise funds for the University of L’Aquila and its displaced students.

“Obviously our hearts were broken by the death and destruction that took place after the earthquake. And I'm very pleased that the United States, like many other countries, will be contributing to help the rebuilding process,” Obama said while addressing journalists at the Quirinale Palace on July 8, 2009. http://www.niaf.org/news/temp/07-08-2009-President-Speech.pdf “In fact, we have, along with the National Italian American Foundation, already identified projects to help rebuild facilities at the University of L'Aquila and to provide scholarships and summer programs.”

Through NIAF’s fundraising efforts, the partnership helped displaced University of L’Aquila students by working with The University of Miami, Sierra Nevada College, Villanova University and the University of New Mexico to provide new educational opportunities. A total of 103 L’Aquila students applied to be part of this program, which included full tuition, room and board scholarships.

2011-2012 Board Officers

Chairman, Jerry Colangelo

Jerry Colangelo

Vice Chair, Paul J. Chiapparone

Vice Chair, Louis J. Freeh

Vice Chair, Patricia Harrison

Patricia Harrison

Patricia Destacy Harrison is 's sister. She lives in the United States, a position to which she was appointed with strong backing from CPB chairman Kenneth Tomlinson...

Vice Chair, Vincent Viola

President, Joseph V. Del Raso

Executive Vice President, Justice Marie L. Garibaldi

Executive Vice President, Salvatore M. Salibello

Treasurer, Gabriel A. Battista

Secretary, John F. Calvelli

General Counsel, Arthur J. Furia

2011-2012 Board of Directors

Robert V. Allegrini

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Peter J. Arduini

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Ken Aspromonte

Ken Aspromonte

Kenneth Joseph Aspromonte is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who had a seven-year career from 1957 to 1963. He played for the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Angels of the American League, and the Milwaukee Braves and Chicago...

LakeCo Properties

Maria Bartiromo

Maria Bartiromo

Maria Bartiromo is an American television journalist, magazine columnist and author of three books. Bartiromo is a native of New York and attended New York University. She worked at CNN for five years before joining CNBC television...

Anchor

CNBC "Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo"

Jeffrey M. Capaccio, Esq.

Carr & Ferrell LLP

Linda R. Carlozzi, Esq.

Partner

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Robert E. Carlucci

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Prof. Paolo Catalfamo

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Rocco B. Commisso

Rocco B. Commisso

Rocco B. Commisso is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mediacom Communications Corporation, the 8th largest cable television company in the United States.- Early life and education :...

Chairman & CEO

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Robert S. Cuillo

President & CEO

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Massimo F. d'Amore

CEO

PepsiCo Beverages Americas

Joseph Della Ratta

Real Estate Developer

Giuliani DePandi Rancic

Anchor and Managing Editor

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John DePasquale

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Joseph M. DePinto

President & CEO

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Matthew J. DiDomenico, Sr.

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John Matthew Inc. Realtors

Hon. Mike Ferguson

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William C. Freda

William C. Freda

William C. Freda is vice chairman and managing partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Freda serves as a member of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation. He also is a member of Youth, I.N.C.'s National Advisory Board.-Education:...

Vice Chairman and U.S. Managing Partner

Deloitte LLP

Dr. Antonio Giordano

Geneticist and Pathologist

President and Founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization

Kenneth G. Langone

President

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Gerard S. LaRocca

Chief Administrative Officer, Americas

Barclays Capital

Giacomo Marini

Giacomo Marini

Giacomo Marini is founder and Managing Director at Noventi, an early-stage technology venture capital firm, based in Silicon Valley....

Founder & Managing Director

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Honorable Dominic R. Massaro

New York Supreme Court

Hon. Anita Bevacqua McBride

Independent Advisor

Joe Moglia

Joe Moglia

Joe Moglia is the current head football coach of the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. Moglia is also the current Chairman and former CEO of TD Ameritrade, the largest online discount brokerage firm in the world in terms of the number of retail online equity trades placed each...

CEO

TD Ameritrade

General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.)

United States Marine Corps (Ret.)

Julian L. Rizzuto

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Conair Corporation

Dr. John P. Rosa

Chiropractor and Community Organizer

John F. Scarpa

Co-Founder

American Cellular Network Corporation

Peter J. Striano

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Joe Uva

President & CEO

Univision Communication, Inc.

Michael Zampardi

Virtu Management

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