Industry Leaders to be Honored at Gala in Washington, D.C.

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Industry Leaders to be Honored at Gala in Washington, D.C.
         **Intel, Travelocity and Universal Forest Products Chairs**

 General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Join Honorees

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul S. Otellini, president and CEO of
Intel Corporation; Michelle Peluso, president and CEO of Travelocity; and
Ambassador Peter F. Secchia, chairman of the Board of Universal Forest
Products Inc., and managing partner of SIBSCO LLC, are among the honorees at
National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) 30th Anniversary Awards Gala,
Saturday evening, October 15 at the Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington,
D.C. The gala begins with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner.
    The NIAF Gala is one of the premier annual events in Washington, D.C.,
attracting more than 3,000 people from throughout the country and abroad. This
year's dinner chair is Willis Group Holdings Chairman and CEO Joseph J.
Plumeri.
    During the NIAF gala, Mr. Otellini and Ms. Peluso will receive NIAF
Special Achievement Awards in Business.  Ambassador Secchia will receive the
NIAF Special Achievement Award for International Affairs.  They will be joined
by General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who will receive
the NIAF Special Achievement Award for Military Service.
    Actors Danny Aiello, Dennis Farina, singers Jay Black, Connie Francis, and
Natalie Merchant, and sport legends Yogi Berra and Tommy Lasorda, will join
popular entertainer Tony Danza, the evening's M.C.
    During the NIAF convention weekend (October 14-15), the Foundation will
host conferences, wine tasting events, the traditional celebrity luncheon and
auction, a youth networking breakfast, and the 6th Annual Salute to the
Martini with music by Jay Black and the Americans.  Conferences include:
Italian Cities of Art and Agricultural Tourism with a book presentation of How
Italy Helped the Cold War: The Untold Story - "Mission Italy" by Ambassador
Richard N. Gardner; Italian Americans in Sports; and a screening of Uncle Nino
starring Joe Mantegna, NIAF celebrity spokesperson.  NIAF will also host a
screening of Sophia Loren's film Francesca e Nunziata.  The Region of
Piedmont, this year's sponsoring region from Italy, will host a wine tasting
event and provide products that are typical of the region.
    Dinner tickets begin at $400 per person. Attire: Black tie.  Proceeds will
benefit the NIAF Scholarship and Education Programs.  For tickets or sponsor
information, contact: Bonni Cellini at 202/939-3114 or bonni@niaf.org or
register on-line at http://www.niaf.org.

    The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-
partisan foundation dedicated to promoting the contributions of Italian
Americans.  The Foundation has a wide-range of programs that provide
scholarships and grants, legislative internships in Congress, conferences and
cultural seminars.  Visit our website at http://www.niaf.org.
SOURCE The National Italian American Foundation
http://www.niaf.org
CONTACT:
Elissa Ruffino, Director of Communications of
the National Italian American Foundation, +1-202-939-3106,
elissa@niaf.org