Over the weekend, the Italian American community gathered in Washington to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the leading organization representing Italian Americans in the United States. The event, held as usual at the Washington Hilton, hosted around 2,400 guests, including Italian and American officials such as Republican Congressman Michael Rulli and Democratic MP for North America Christian Di Sanzo, along with entrepreneurs, artists, and representatives of the diaspora. This year’s gala marked half a century of activity for the foundation, established in 1975 to promote relations between Italy and the United States and to highlight the contributions of Italians to American society.
Among the honorees of the evening, NIAF presented several awards to prominent figures in Italian entrepreneurship and innovation. The Special Achievement Award as Global Business Leader went to John Elkann, chairman of Ferrari and Stellantis, for his role in promoting Italian industrial excellence internationally. The Dea Roma Special Achievement Awards were presented to Flavio Cattaneo (Enel Group), Roberto Cingolani (Leonardo), Stefano Antonio Donnarumma (FS Italiane), Kamel Ghribi (GKSD and Gruppo San Donato), Doug Leone (Sequoia Capital), and Katia Passerini (Gonzaga University), representing sectors from energy to research, finance, and education.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also took part in the evening through a video message to the attendees. In her remarks, she expressed her “honor” in celebrating NIAF’s anniversary, calling it “the unwavering voice and backbone of the Italian American community.” Meloni thanked NIAF President Robert Allegrini and the board for “building a strong bridge between the two nations,” emphasizing that the values of family, faith, and hard work remain “the DNA of opportunity” shared by Italy and the United States.
The Prime Minister also recalled the role of Italian immigrants in American history, saying that “they did not merely come to America—they helped build and shape it.” She cited the success of Italian Americans as an example of excellence and paid tribute to Andrea Bocelli, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Entertainment and recently met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, where he performed “Con te Partirò.” “I remember his performance at the G7 in Puglia very well,” Meloni said, “his voice reminded world leaders what harmony means—the same harmony that connects Italy and the United States.”
In closing, Meloni criticized what she called the “woke culture” and its attempt to “rewrite history” by erasing symbolic figures like Christopher Columbus. “Defending Columbus Day,” she declared, “is not just about protecting a date on the calendar, but recognizing the place Italian Americans have earned in the mosaic of the American nation.”
Former President Donald Trump echoed this reference by sharing on Truth Social the passage in which Meloni defended Columbus Day. The Prime Minister, in turn, thanked Trump for his recent words honoring Columbus and the Italian American community.
Alongside the institutional speeches, the evening also highlighted the Lazio Region, the official partner of this edition, for its cultural heritage and efforts to strengthen ties with the United States. Lazio’s President Francesco Rocca described the region as “a natural bridge between history and innovation,” emphasizing its commitment to deepening dialogue with American institutions and the Italian American community.
A notable moment of the gala was the collaboration between NIAF and Italy’s Serie A League, which brought former soccer player Alessandro Del Piero to the stage. The initiative, presented by film producer and SSC Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, included the announcement of the winner of the NIAF/De Laurentiis Film Prizes, an award recognizing films that tell the story of Italian experiences around the world.
Among the Italian institutional attendees were MP Christian Di Sanzo, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè, and Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani. Di Sanzo, speaking to Il Newyorkese, called NIAF’s 50th anniversary “a great milestone.” He described the foundation as “a reminder of our roots and traditions, but above all, a bridge that continues to connect Italy and the Italian American community.” He added that “last night’s gala was a beautiful celebration that shows how this community remains a powerful source of opportunity and energy between Italy and the United States.”
Minister Ciriani, also speaking to Il Newyorkese, said that the bond between Italy and the U.S. is “stronger than ever,” describing NIAF as “a social, economic, and political bridge” between the two countries. He added that “the American Dream has deep Italian roots,” recalling the story of immigrants who sought a better life overseas.
NIAF President Robert Allegrini, in his remarks to Il Newyorkese, called it “a record year” for the foundation, with over 2,300 guests from across the U.S. and Italy. “Happy birthday to NIAF,” said Allegrini, “tonight we celebrated half a century of history and closed with Andrea Bocelli singing ‘Nessun Dorma.’ And tonight, truly, no one will sleep.”
A message from Italian President Sergio Mattarella, read during the evening, reaffirmed the importance of the Italian American community in preserving its heritage and promoting Italy’s image worldwide.
The foundation also unveiled a commemorative stamp dedicated to its 50th anniversary, created in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp, depicting the Capitoline Wolf beside the American eagle, celebrates fifty years of cultural and diplomatic ties between Italy and the United States and serves as a symbol of the shared identity of the Italian American community.
Founded in 1975 in Washington, the National Italian American Foundation has long supported scholarship programs, cultural initiatives, and lobbying efforts to defend Italian heritage and traditions in the United States. Over the decades, it has counted figures like Frank Sinatra, Lee Iacocca, and Nancy Pelosi among its supporters. The 50th anniversary edition paid tribute to that legacy, celebrating the origins and continuity of a bond that today includes more than 17 million Italian Americans.
