The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) 43rd Anniversary Awards Gala will take place October 13, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Also this year’s event is expected to repeat the tradition and bring the Italian-American community together in one place to make a statement about Italian pride in the US.
The NIAF 2018 Italian Region of Honor is Puglia. The region of Puglia is excited to showcase its sun-bleached coasts, Medieval towns perched atop mountainsides as well as its culinary traditions in front of those Italian Americans who may still not be aware of what the famous heel of Italy’s boot has to offer.
In addition to Puglia, six renowned leaders from the Italian and Italian American community will be recognized for their contributions to the respective fields. Honorees are Chef Lidia Bastianich, Vincenzo Boccia, president, Confindustria; Giovanni Caforio, M.D., chairman/CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb; Antonio De Matteis, CEO, Kiton; Cav. Lav. Vito Pertosa, founder, Angel Group; and Carl J. Schramm, an American economist and entrepreneur.
“We are privileged to recognize our six honorees, who are truly leaders in their respective fields,” said NIAF Gala Chairman John Calvelli. “They exemplify NIAF’s mission to interact and engage with leaders from government, industry, and business here and in Italy.”
This year, the awards were created by Dante Mortet, a sixth-generation sculptor based in Rome whose family have helped create works of art for more than 100 years, including the Sword of Victory for Victor Emmanuel III; the Door of the Reliquary of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem; and the lamps kept in the Pantheon for the tomb of Queen Margherita of Savoy. This year’s award is a sculpture fittingly honoring the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci. The 500th anniversary of his death is in 2019.
For more information, visit www.niaf.org/gala.
