2009 NIAF Gala Honorees:

•   Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, philanthropist and Public Television cooking show host, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service
•  Massimo d’Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business
• Carla Gugino, actor from the film “The Watchmen” and in the HBO series “Entourage,” will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Entertainment
• Hon. Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will receive a NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service
• Antonello Venditti, renowned Italian singer and songwriter, will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Music

Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” will emcee the Foundation’s annual black-tie gala.

Gala Weekend Attendees:

Hon. Samuel A. Alito, Jr.                     Supreme Court Justice

Robert B. Aderholt                               Congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives (AL-4)

Hon. John Barrasso                              U.S. Senator, Wyoming

Maria Bartiromo                                  CNBC Anchor

Hon. Amato Berardi                             U.S. Representative of the Chamber of Deputies

Connie Britton                                     Actress, NBC’s show “Friday Night Lights”

Hon. Mike Capuano                             U.S. House of Representatives (MA-8)

Vinny Cerrato                                      Executive V P of Football Operations for the Washington Redskins

Hon. Gianni Chiodi                               President of the Region of Abruzzo

Hon. Gianni DeGennaro                       Director of the Italian Intelligence Agency

Hon. Rosa DeLauro                              U.S. House of Representatives (CT-3)

Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.                        Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

Hon. Louis Freeh                                 Former Director of the FBI

Federico Gardaphe                               White House Writer

Daniel R. Glickman                             Chairman and CEO of the MPAA

Patricia de Stacy Harrison                    President and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Hon. Ignazio La Russa                         Italy’s Minister of Defense

George LeMieux                                  U.S. Senator, Florida

Hon. Antonio Manganelli                     Italy’s National Chief of Police

Alyssa Mastromonaco                          Director of Scheduling and Advance, The White House

Jim Messina                                        Deputy Chief of Staff,  The White House

Hon. John Mica                                   U.S. House of Representatives (FL-7)

Hon. Dan Mongiardo                            Lieutenant Governor, State of Kentucky

Indra Nooyi                                          Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo

General Peter Pace                               Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Sal Paolantonio                                     ESPN National Correspondent

Hon. Bill Pascrell, Jr.                           Co-chairman Italian American Congressional Delegation (NJ-

Hon. Nancy Pelosi   09                         Speaker of the House

Dana Perino                                     Former White House press secretary

Mark Perriello                                     Director of Priority Placement, The White House

Tony Reali                                            Host of ESPN’s “Around the Horn”

Sharon Percy Rockefeller                     President and CEO of WETA

Mike Rizzo                                           Senior VP and Gen Manager Washington Nationals

Hon. Linda Sanchez                              U.S. House of Representatives (CA-39)

Hon. Steve Scalise                             ...U.S. House of Representatives (LA-1)

Dan Tangherlini                                   Assistant Secretary for Management, Treasury .

Dan Tarullo                                          Federal Reserve Board of Directors

H.E. Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata    .......Ambassador of Italy to the United States

Hon. David R. Thorne   01                     U.S. Ambassador to Italy

Hon. Pat Tiberi                                     Co-chairman Italian American Congressional Delegation (OH)