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The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), a nationwide foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the largest and most dedicated representative of the more than 20 million American citizens of Italian descent living in the United States.
NIAF was established in 1975 and is a non-profit, non-partisan organization.
The two most important goals pursued by NIAF are to ensure that Italian Americans continue to preserve and honor their rich heritage of cultural values and traditions, and to guarantee that the broader community never forgets the significant contributions Italians have made to the history and progress of the United States. To this end, the Foundation works actively with the United States Congress and the White House on all major issues concerning Italian Americans.
Below are some of the activities and programs promoted and offered by NIAF:
Promotion and development of economic and cultural relations between Italy and the United States through work with political and business leaders from both countries
Representation of the Italian American community before the U.S. government
Awarding of scholarships to deserving American students with at least one Italian ancestor
Funding for "Voyages of Discovery" for Italian-American young adults on a merit-based basis who have never visited Italy
Financial and organizational support for the growth of "NIAF on Campus" university clubs that encourage celebration and understanding of Italian culture
To celebrate the great heritage that unites the Italian and American peoples and all the goals achieved by the Foundation, NIAF hosts its Anniversary Gala every October in Washington, D.C., typically attended by the President of the United States, prominent American figures from politics, finance, and culture, distinguished Italian Americans, and over 200 guests from the U.S. and Italy.
On this occasion, the Foundation bestows honors upon eminent Italian and Italian American individuals who have distinguished themselves in their professional or civic roles. In the past, NIAF has honored figures such as Antonin Scalia, the first Italian American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio, Lee Iacocca, Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti, and Sophia Loren.