On Saturday, October 17, at Washington Hilton, the National Italian American Foundation celebrated its 51st anniversary with an evening dedicated to Italians and Italians working in the show, industry, institutions and associations. Among the winners were the comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco, the managing director of Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero and the president and managing director of Marriott International Anthony Capuano. Part of the gala proceeds will support the educational and cultural programs of the foundation.
Founded in 1975, NIAF is a non-profit organization with no political affiliations based in Washington. It deals with promoting Italian culture in the United States and maintaining relations between the Italian-American community and Italy. It also does so through scholarships and programs such as the Voyage of Discovery, which finances travel in Italy for young Americans of Italian origin. The annual gala brings together supporters, entrepreneurs and representatives of the institutions around these activities.
Maniscalco received the Dea Roma Special Achievement Award for entertainment and performed during the evening. “I do not receive awards. My reward is to see you laugh,” he said at the time of recognition, according to the report from the foundation. In addition to stand-up shows, Maniscalco has worked in films such as Green Book and The Irishman and has written and interpreted About My Father, in which he plays alongside Robert De Niro.
The prize in Folgiero was for Fincantieri’s lead: it was the first time that NIAF awarded a recognition specifically dedicated to leadership in the maritime industry. The Italian group is present in the United States through Fincantieri Marine Group, which manages four yards, three in Wisconsin and one in Florida, with about three thousand employees. According to the data reported by the company on the occasion of the award, investments in American yards have exceeded 800 million dollars in almost twenty years.
Capuano was awarded for the hotel industry. The recognition for civic engagement went instead to Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright, who led from 2022 to 2025 the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, becoming the first Italian American to cover the task. The association brings together women who can document their descent from people who contributed to American independence.
John Bentivegna, the military at the top of United States Space Force’s unofficial personnel, received the Fiorello La Guardia award. Among the guests were the ambassador of Italy in the United States Marco Peronaci, the Supreme Court judge Samuel Alito and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The President of the Council Giorgia Meloni spoke with a video message addressed to the Italian-American community.
Lombardy, chosen as the NIAF Onore Region for 2026, was represented by President Attilio Fontana. The collaboration with the foundation was announced in January and included, in addition to participating in the galas of New York and Washington, a travel program for students and institutional meetings. Every year the NIAF dedicates these initiatives to an Italian region, promoting its enterprises, tourism and cultural productions.
The theme of the second edition of the NIAF/De Laurentiis Film Prizes was also announced. Applications will open in January 2027. The program, created with producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, supports aspiring directors who want to tell stories related to Italians and Italians. The formula described by the foundation includes five contributions of $10,000 to make the films and, for the final winner, another $10,000 and a path of support with De Laurentiis and his working group.
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