NEW NIAF LEADERSHIP ELECTED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elissa Ruffino at 202/387-0600 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – March 14, 2005) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) elected new board officers for the 2005-2009 term during the Foundation's March 11 board meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli was elected chairman. He succeeds Hon. Frank J. Guarini, who was elected chairman emeritus. Joseph R. Cerrell, founder and chairman of Cerrell Associates; Jerry Colangelo, chair and CEO of the Phoenix Suns; and Vincent Viola, senior strategic advisor at the New York Mercantile Exchange, were elected vice chairmen. Salvatore J. Zizza, chairman of HallMark Electrical Supplies Corporation, is the new NIAF president. Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq., a partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP, is the executive vice president. Salvatore Salibello, founder and managing partner of the international assurance, accounting, tax and consulting firm Salibello & Broder LLP, was elected treasurer. Nancy Chistolini, senior vice president of fashion and public relations for Hecht's and Strawbridge's, was re-elected secretary. Hon. Louis Freeh, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and senior vice chairman of administration and legal affairs at MBNA America Inc., was elected general counsel.

The NIAF board also elected five new members: Lucio Caputo, president, International Trade Center of New York; Hon. Charles Gargano, vice chairman, the Board of Commissioners of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Joseph Moglia, CEO, Ameritrade Holding Corporation; Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and CEO, The Willis Group; and Ronald L. Zarrella, chairman and CEO, Bausch & Lomb.

The NIAF is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to preserving the heritage of an estimated 25 million Americans of Italian descent. Visit our website at: http://www.blogger.com/www.niaf.org

EVENT: NIAF EAST COAST GALA

SPONSOR: The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
WHEN: Wednesday evening, April 13, 2005
6:00 PM Reception & Silent Auction
7:00 PM Dinner
WHERE: The Waldorf-Astoria
301 Park Avenue
New York, NY
Contact: Elissa Ruffino at 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will host its annual East Coast Gala, on April 13 in New York City, to benefit the NIAF Scholarship and Education Programs.
NIAF will salute the following prominent industry leaders for their outstanding leadership in medicine, business, and entertainment.
· Dr. Michael Brescia, executive medical director, Calvary Hospital, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service
· Joseph Moglia, CEO, Ameritrade Holding Corporation, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business
· Stanley Tucci, award-winning actor, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Entertainment

The gala is chaired by Frank Petrilli, NIAF board member and retired CEO of TD Waterhouse USA. Emmy Award-winning actress Susan Lucci will present a NIAF scholarship to a young Italian American during the gala. CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and Ron Insana are some of the prominent Italian Americans attending the gala.

Dinner tickets start at $300 per person. Attire: Business. To purchase, contact, Bonni Cellini at 202/939-3114 or bonni@niaf.org. You can also register on line at www.niaf.org
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Learn more about our programs and events by visiting www.niaf.org