Reminder: NIAF Gala Weekend Begins Tommorow Morning

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will emcee the National Italian American Foundation’s 34th Anniversary Gala on October 24 in out nations capitol. This year’s honorees include Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, culinary pioneer and restaurant entrepreneur Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, actress Carla Gugino, renowned Italian singer and songwriter Antonello Venditti and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages Massimo F. d’Amore.

Ticket purchases for the Gala are no longer available online, but if you call 202-387-0600, they will inform you as to the opportunities for purchasing tickets.

The NIAF continually goes the extra mile to make certain that families have the opportunity to partake in the festivities; so the NIAF would like to remind everyone that there are plenty of free events and displays over the course of the weekend for those without tickets too.

Additional NIAF Gala Weekend Notable Attendees

Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She has represented California’s Eighth District in the House of Representatives since 1987. Overwhelmingly elected by her colleagues in the fall of 2002 as Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is the first woman in American history to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress.

Hon. Samuel Alito, Jr. is a Justice on the  United States Supreme Court.

General Peter Pace is a retired four-star general in the United States Marine Corps who was appointed to serve as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States’ highest-ranking military office. General Pace was the first Marine in the history of the U.S. to hold such an honor.

Senator John Barrasso is the junior U.S. Senator from the State of Wyoming.

Jim Messina is the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama. Prior to this position he served as chief of staff for three Congressional Democrats—Senators Max Baucus of Montana, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York.

Mark Perriello is Director of Priority Placement at the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. In his role, Mr. Perriello is tasked with recruiting top talent from diverse populations.

Alyssa Mastromonaco is the Director of Scheduling and Advance in the White House Office of President Barack Obama. She worked as the Director of Scheduling for Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004, and before that was Press Secretary for Congressman Rick Boucher.

Connie Britton is an American actress known for her role in the television drama Friday Night Lights and the original Friday Night Lights movie. Her new movie, Woman in Trouble, will be released this fall.

Maria Bartiromo is the anchor of CNBC’s ” Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo”, and host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated ” Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo,” which was also recently rated the most watched financial news program in America.

Dana Perino is the former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush. She is now a regular contributor on Fox News.

Yogi Berra is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career for the New York Yankees and was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Jerry Colangelo was the face of the Phoenix Suns franchise since their inaugural season in 1968, until he sold the franchise for a record $401 million in June, 2007. He retains the title of chairman for five years.

Vinny Cerrato is the current Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Washington Redskins of the National Football league. He is also the host of a talk show on ESPN980 in Washington DC called “inside the Red Zone”.

Mike Rizzo is the Senior Vice President & General Manager of MLB’s Washington Nationals. Rizzo joined the Nationals as assistant GM in July 2006, after seven seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, primarily as director of scouting. Rizzo was promoted to General Manager in September 2009 after taking over the day-to-day duties upon former GM Jim Bowden’s abrupt resignation during spring training. He is widely regarded for his strong evaluation of talent.

Sal Paolantonio has been a national correspondent for ESPN since 1995 covering the NFL. Prior, from 1985 to 1995 he was a sportswriter and national political correspondent at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He has won five Emmy awards for his contributions to SportsCenter and Sunday NFL Countdown.

Tony Reali is an American sports personality and television host, and the current host of Around the Horn on ESPN. He is also a regular contributor on the Emmy-Award winning sports television show Pardon the Interruption.

Hon. Louis Freeh served as FBI Director from 1983-1991.

Hon. Rosa DeLauro is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Connecticut’s 3 rd District. She is the chairwoman of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House of Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee. Additionally, DeLauro is one of the leading members on the House Budget Committee.

Hon. John Mica is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Florida’s 7 th District. He is a ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Hon. Mike Capuano is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Massachusetts’ 8 th District. He is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and the Financial Services Committees. Capuano also serves on the House Democratic Leadership team as a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

Hon. Patrick Tiberi is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Ohio’s 12 th District. He is a member of the Committee on Way and Means and is the co-Chairman of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation.

Hon. Steve Scalise is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Louisiana’s 1 st District. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Hon. William Pascrell is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing New Jersey’s 8 th District. He is a member of the Committee on Way and Means and is the co-Chairman of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation.

Hon. Robert Aderholt is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Alabama’s 4th District. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe.

Patricia Harrison is the president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the United States. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee and as Assistant Secretary of US Department of State.

Dan Tarullo is a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve Board. Prior to this he served in the Clinton Administration as Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and later as Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy. He is also a professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center.

Hon. Amato Berardi is a member of the Italian Parliament, representing North American. Prior, he founded Berardi & Associates Inc. and is also the co-founder of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia.

Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata is the new Italian Ambassador to the United States. Prior he was the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations.

Pietro Sambi is the Titular Archbishop of Belcastro and the Apostolic Nuncio, Papal Ambassador, to the United States.

Hon. Antonio Manganelli is the head of the Italian National Police. In 2000 he was nominated as the center director of criminal police e general vice director of the State Police. Prior to this position he was the Director of the SCO (Central Operation Service) and of the Central Service of Protection of collaborators of justice.

Hon. Gianni DeGennaro is the Director of the Italian Intelligence Agency. He is the former Chief of Police. He also served as the head of the cabinet of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Extraordinary Commissioner for the emergency in Campania.

Hon. Gianni Chiodi is the President of the Region of Abruzzo. Prior to this position, he was Mayor of Teramo.

Hon. Dan Mongiardo is the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and is also a physician. From 2001 to 2007 he was a member of the Kentucky Senate from the 30 th District.

Hon. Luca Zaia is the Italian Minister of Agriculture in Silvio Berlusconi’s fourth cabinet. Zaia has also been regional councilor for tourist and foreign trade policies, the agricultural and zootechny policies, the rural development plans, the EU LEADER programme, and economy and mountain development.

The Details

Name: NIAF Annual Convention & Gala
When: Friday, Oct 23 2009 9:00 AM
Venue: Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington DC
Telephone: 202-483-3000
Website: National Italian American Foundation

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by Donna Petrongolo