Thank you to The Hon. Leon Panetta, Harry Lombardo, The Hon. Chris Dodd, LTG Flora Darpino, The Hon. Samuel Alito, The Hon. Nancy Pelosi, GEN Raymond Odierno, The Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Joe Mantegna and all the sponsors, supporters, volunteers and more than 700 guests of the Sons of Italy Foundation's (SIF) 26^th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards Gala on May 22.

The 2014 NELA Gala was an incredible representation of the best of Italy and the United States, showcasing achievement and leadership at the highest levels. The Gala also paid tribute to America's military men and women and their families who serve and sacrifice for our nation, and the SIF was pleased to have many join us for the Gala. To our generous sponsors and all in attendance: we hope you were proud to be part of such a special evening.

Enjoy the highlights below; visit our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for more; view the NELA Gala journal online; and tag your Gala photos on Facebook and Twitter (#nelagala @Sons_of_Italy).

Don't forget to save the date of May 21, 2015, for the Sons of Italy Foundation's 27^th Annual NELA Gala.

All photos © Max Taylor. No reprint or reproduction without permission.

Former secretary of defense, director of the CIA, and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta speaks after receiving the SIF's National Education & Leadership Award.

The Sons of Italy Foundation's 2014 national scholarship winners

See the 2014 NELA Gala journal online and read the special messages from our sponsors to the 2014 honorees.

Thank you to these and all the NELA Gala sponsors. View more sponsors here and the complete list in our digital journal.

Learn more about the 2014 SIF scholarship recipients.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi presents the SIF's 6th Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service to former senator and current chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America Christopher Dodd.

Transport Workers Union International President Harry Lombardo (right) accepts the SIF Humanitarian Award from 2009 honoree Robert Scardelletti, national president of Transportation Communications Union/IAM.

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., addresses the Gala audience.

Actor Joe Mantegna serves as master of ceremonies.

LTG Flora Darpino, the first female U.S. Army Judge Advocate General, is presented the SIF's Special Award for Military Justice by Army Chief of Staff GEN Raymond Odierno.

The 26th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards Gala is underway in the Great Hall of Washington's beautiful National Building Museum.

Unable to attend in person, 2012 SIF Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service honoree Hillary Rodham Clinton sent recorded congratulations for Sec. Panetta.

Justice Samuel Alito (left), Secretary Leon Panetta and SIF National Executive Director/CEO Philip Piccigallo (right) speak before the program.

Sons of Italy^® Trustee Maria Pignati sings the national anthem as the D.C. Metropolitan Police Dept. Ceremonial Honor Guard presents the colors.

Chicago tenor Sean Harris performs for the audience.

Joe Mantegna, Ambassador Bisogniero and many guests took to Twitter to talk about the Gala. See their posts on Twitter, search #nelagala.

Sen. Christopher Dodd is greeted by SIF CEO Philip Piccigallo (right).

Charles Evans Foundation President Linda Munson (right) presents the Charles Evans Scholarship to Marisa Mitrano of Hartford, Conn.

Secretary Leon Panetta with Anthony Baratta (left) and Joseph DiTrapani (right), SIF chairman and president, respectively

L-R: Georgetown Entertainment president and Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese talks with former National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones (USMC, Ret.), Diane Jones and Italy's Ambassador to the United States Claudio Bisogniero during the NELA reception.

L-R: Anthony Morella, former ambassador to the OECD and member of Congress Connie Morella, Dr. Christine Grady, SIF CEO Philip Piccigallo and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at NIH and the SIF's 1992 NELA honoree

Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (Mich.), left, meets Cpt. Louis Cavaliere (USN, Ret.), chairman, the Chapel of Four Chaplains.

Rep. John Larson (Conn.), left, drops by the NELA Gala and talks with guests.

LTG Flora Darpino (center) with family and guests at the NELA reception

Justice Samuel Alito (left) and GEN Raymond Odierno greet each other at the NELA.

Sons of Italy^® National Past Presidents (clockwise from bottom left): Joanne Strollo, Paul Polo, Sr., Joseph Sciame, Joseph DiTrapani and Robert Messa.

Humanitarian Award honoree Harry Lombardo (center, holding award) captures the moment with fellow members of the Transport Workers Union.

Joe Mantegna (left) offers special congratulations to SGT Michael Notrica, recipient of the Wounded Warrior Project/Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarship.

Secretary Leon Panetta (left) and Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero take a moment for a photo during the NELA Gala.

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The Sons of Italy Foundation^® is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

All donations to the SIF are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Donate online | Donate by phone: 800-552-OSIA (6742)

Sons of Italy Foundation^®

219 E Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002

202.547.2900 | 202.547.0121 (fax)

sif@osia.org | www.osia.org/sif | SIF Philanthropic Efforts

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