The Minister of Economic Development, Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, attended the 46th Annual Gala of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), celebrating the contribution made by the Italian-American community to the success of the United States and to the strengthening of relations between Italy and the United States in all areas of politics, economics, culture, scientific and technological research, innovation, and space.
This year the Gala, once again attended in person, also marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and the United States, and was attended among others by Congresswoman Fucsia Nissoli. “What would America be without the contribution of Italy and Italian-Americans?” Giorgetti said, highlighting the courage of the many Italians who emigrated to the US and helped cement the friendship between the two countries. Ambassador Zappia also expressed her gratitude to Italian-Americans for their contribution, past and present, to building bridges between Italy and the United States, “two beautiful democracies,” she said, “which share values and principles and are therefore natural allies in the face of the challenges of our time”.
During the evening, a video message from the US First Lady Jill Biden, with Italian origins, was also shown. Finally, Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, Stanley Tucci, winner of a recent Emmy for CNN’s “Searching for Italy”, singer-songwriter Tony Bennett, director Enrico Casarosa di Luca, from Disney Pixar’s latest film, and John Silvestri, Chairman of Interstate Commercial Real Estate, were honoured with awards.
