As Italian-American Heritage Month gets underway, the National Italian-American Foundation is preparing to host a gala weekend on October 14 and 15 at the OMNI Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year, NIAF members will honor Emilia-Romagna, the Italian region that made headlines earlier this year when it was struck by devastating floods.
The tastes, sights, sounds, and people of the region — and the diaspora of emiliani, romagnoli and other italiani around the world — will be highlighted throughout the evening. An aperitivo presented by Campari will kick things off, followed by a dinner emceed by Italian-American Fox News anchor, Maria Bartiromo, and entertainer and actor, Joe Piscopo.
About 1,200 guests from the United States and Italy are expected to attend the festivities. While the gala has sold out, the NIAF Forum will hold free, open-to-the-public seminars on the Italian diaspora and transatlantic ties on the same day. The full seminar schedule is available here.
In addition to honoring Emilia-Romagna, the evening will also pay tribute to a number of Italian or Italian-American individuals who have distinguished themselves in the arts, business, medicine or civic leadrship. These honorees will include, among others, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group, and Veronica Berti Bocelli, CEO of Almud Music Editions and Vice-Chair of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
About the National Italian-American Foundation
The NIAF, headquartered in the capital of the United States, is a nationwide, non-profit organization founded in 1975 with the aim of further enhancing the already strong ties between the United States and Italy.
Each year for nearly five decades, the NIAF has held this lavish black-tie event. Past guest lists have included numerous US presidents, foreign and domestic heads of state, political and thought leaders, business executives, and distinguished cultural figures. Past honorees have included Antonin Scalia, the first Italian-American justice on the US Supreme Court; the baseball great Joe Di Maggio; and world-renowned entertainers like Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren.
