ANNIVERSARY GALA - National Italian American Foundation

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ AT NIAF’s WEST COAST GALA
California here we come! The National Italian American
Foundation’s West Coast Gala began May 19 with
sparkling evening skies over a cocktail reception at the
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.
Actor Joe Mantegna and NIAF President Joseph v.
Del Raso Esq., opened the star-studded festivities in
the Starlight Ballroom that attracted more than 400
guests and honorees, including Oscar-nominated
producer Dana Brunetti; former American Idol judge
Kara DioGuardi; actor, screenwriter and director Jon
Favreau; Los Angeles Dodgers great Tommy Lasorda;
Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Gary Sinise;
California trial lawyer Thomas v. Girardi and E! News
anchor Giuliana DePandi-Rancic. Democratic Leader
Nancy Pelosi kicked off a special tribute to the late
Joseph R.Cerrell, a former NIAF vice chairman and a
legendary Los Angeles public affairs consultant.
Mike Piazza and honoree
Tommy LasordaFame.
2011 West Coast Gala co-chairs
Marcella Leonetti-Tyler
and Jeffrey Capaccio
Actor and singer Franc D’Ambrosio of “Phantom of the
Opera” sang the U.s. national anthem and entertained
guests, joined by actress and singer Christina Carlucci
who sang “The Prayer” as well as the Italian national
anthem. Among the special guests were Academy
Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine, Major League
Baseball All-Star Mike Piazza, actor Brenda Vaccaro,
and actor Lou Ferrigno.
Australian director Robert Luketic and honoree Gary Sinise
At a reception later in the week at the Italian Cultural
Institute of Los Angeles, NIAF’s Board of Directors
awarded a special NIAF grant to The Lorenzo
DaPonte Italian Library Project at the University of
California Los Angeles.
Honoree Jon Favreau and
comedian Jeff Ross
Honoree Kara DioGuardi and
Giuliana DePandi-Rancic
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At the DaPonte reception: NIAF Board Member Kenneth J. Aspromonte; Dr. John P. Rosa; Board Member and NIAF Regional Vice
President for the Far West-North Jeffrey M. Capaccio; DaPonte Library Cofounder and Director Luigi Ballerini; Alberto Di Mauro,
director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles; NIAF President Joseph V. Del Raso; NIAF Board Member Matthew J. DiDomenico
Sr.; and Marcella Leonetti-Tyler, NIAF regional vice president for the Far West-South and cochair of the West Coast Gala
The 2011 NIAF Gala