National Italian American Foundation

NIAF News! It’s Wednesday, September 4th and we’re covering NIAF's 49th Anniversary Gala in October, an opportunity for college students, and our upcoming golf tournament in LA. Don't miss this edition of NIAF News! NIAF News is your bi-weekly news flash on all the latest happenings in Italy and the Italian American community, brought to you by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). Hosted by Gabriella Mileti, Director of Special Programs and PR at NIAF.

NIAF is proud to announce Carlo Messina as one of our 49th Anniversary Gala Honorees! Carlo Messina is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Intesa Sanpaolo, a role he has held since 2013. A distinguished figure in the banking industry, Messina began his career at Banca Nazionale del Lavoro and has since climbed the ranks through various leadership roles across Italy’s top financial institutions. In addition to his professional achievements, he has contributed significantly to academia as a professor of Economics and Corporate Finance. Messina’s leadership extends beyond Intesa Sanpaolo; he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Italian Banking Association, a Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association of New York, and a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University. Among his numerous honors, he was knighted as “Cavaliere del Lavoro” by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and has received honorary degrees from prestigious universities. Join NIAF’s 49th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C. to celebrate Carlo Messina and his accomplishments: https://bit.ly/3Wo0mmm

NIAF Member Spotlight: Dr. Francesco Gargano! Meet Dr. Francesco Gargano, an esteemed plastic surgeon whose journey from the Amalfi Coast to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York is nothing short of inspiring. Born into a renowned Amalfi-based hospitality family, Francesco felt a deeper calling—to help people through medicine. Despite not having a traditional scientific background, he defied the odds, earning his medical degree from The Sapienza University in Rome and specializing in plastic surgery. Learn more about Dr. Gargano's story: https://bit.ly/3T4s8Uc NIAF is proud to highlight Dr. Gargano's inspiring story. Want your story spotlighted? Join NIAF at the Silver level or higher for a chance to be featured in our next NIAF Member Spotlight: https://bit.ly/3xyrAh7

NIAF is proud to announce Admiral Lisa Franchetti as one of our 49th Anniversary Gala Honorees! Admiral Franchetti is the Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy. She is not only a proud Italian American, but the first women to ever serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Franchetti’s distinguished 39-year career includes combat experience, leadership of a carrier strike group deployment, and senior strategy roles. On top of shattering gender barriers through her Navy service, Admiral Franchetti has received numerous personal awards including Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). NIAF is pleased to recognize such a notable member of our Italian America community. Secure your gala ticket today: https://bit.ly/3Wo0mmm

A NIAF Gala is an iconic affair! Every year since NIAF's founding in 1975, we have invited the most notable members of the Italian American community to celebrate our anniversary in October during Italian Heritage Month. This year we'll celebrate NIAF's 49th Anniversary honoring the beautiful region of Friuli Venezia Giulia on Saturday, October 26th at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned as we announce this year's honorees! Our gala sells out early every year! So secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/3Wo0mmm

The National Italian American Foundation mourns the loss of Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr.    Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. built his life of public service around the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of Paterson, New Jersey. The first member of his family to graduate high school, Congressman Pascrell went on to receive dual degrees from Fordham University, serve in the United States Army, and become a teacher and adjunct professor. He served as a State Assemblyman and Mayor of Paterson before his election to the United States Congress in 1996. In Congress, Congressman Pascrell prioritized funding public safety, supporting educators, protecting our environment, and making our tax system fairer.   Pascrell worked very closely with NIAF while serving as co-chair of the bipartisan Italian American Congressional Delegation. At NIAF’s 47th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C., Congressman Pascrell was honored with NIAF’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service recognizing his many years of service and his steadfast advocacy on behalf of the Italian American community.   Today we honor and remember the legacy of Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. May he rest in peace.

NIAF News! It’s Wednesday, August 21st and we’re covering the new wellness brand Mantua Food and NIAF events in Florida, New York and California. Don't miss this edition of NIAF News! NIAF News is your bi-weekly news flash on all the latest happenings in Italy and the Italian American community, brought to you by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). Hosted by Gabriella Mileti, Director of Special Programs and PR at NIAF.

Buon Compleanno to the Honorable Frank Guarini! Today, former Congressman and former NIAF President and Chairman of the Board Frank Guarini turns 100 years old! Congressman Guarini is the oldest living former congressman from New Jersey, the oldest living former statewide candidate, the oldest living former state senator, and the oldest living member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Guarini has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions as well as the dedicatee of several buildings, including the Jersey City Main Post Office, the New Jersey City University library, and the residence for the College President of Saint Peter’s College, as well as John Cabot University’s campus in Rome, Italy. In addition to many other awards, Guarini received Italy’s highest decoration, the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. At NIAF, Guarini championed the preservation of our heritage through the study of the Italian language and the reinstatement of the College Board’s AP in Italian Language and Culture. Tanti Auguri Frank!

NIAF selects this year's DiLella Fellows! We are pleased to announce the selected fellows for the inaugural NIAF DiLella Fellows Program. This prestigious program offers an all-expenses-paid strategic business and political tour in Italy for young Italian American and Italophile professionals aged 25-40. Participants will visit Como, Bologna, Firenze, and Roma, where they will engage in meetings with major Italian international leaders and experts, participate in corporate visits, and attend the Ambrosetti Forum on global scenarios at Villa d’Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como. The NIAF DiLella Fellows Program is made possible through the generous support of Daniel DiLella, NIAF board member and Chairman of Equus Capital Partners, Ltd. To see the full list of participants head over to the NIAF website: https://bit.ly/4fQE8lF

Yesterday, NIAF hosted a reception honoring the bipartisan Italian American commitment to public service in collaboration with the Italian American Democratic Leadership Council at Tre Dita Restaurant in Chicago! NIAF President Robert Allegrini was joined by NIAF Executive Vice Chairman John Calvelli, Board Members Joseph Lonardo, Gerard Centioli, Debra DiMaggio, Hon. Mike Ferguson, and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). As NIAF also recently held a reception at the Republican National Convention, we are proud to recognize the contributions of Italian Americans across the political spectrum.