Thank you to General Raymond Odierno, Terry O'Sullivan, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Alfred Grasso, Geno Auriemma, Captain Anthony Odierno, Armand Sabitoni, Joe Mantegna and all the sponsors, supporters, volunteers and more than 900 guests of the Sons of Italy Foundation's (SIF) 27th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala on May 21.

The 2015 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 26, 2016, for the Sons of Italy Foundation's 28th Annual NELA Gala.

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


U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno speaks after receiving the SIF's National Education & Leadership Award.


The 27th Annual NELA gala is underway in the Great Hall of Washington's beautiful National Building Museum.


The Sons of Italy Foundation's 2015 National Leadership Grant recipients


See the 2015 NELA Gala journal online and read the special messages from our sponsors to the 2015 honorees.
                          

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



Alzheimer's Association















 
2012 SIF Humanitarian Awardee & General Secretary-Treasurer of LiUNA Armand Sabitoni (L) presents LiUNA's General President Terry O'Sullivan the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service.

Actor Tony Lo Bianco visits with Capt. Anthony Odierno (L) and Sons of Italy National Past President Joseph Sciame.
Dr. Anthony Fauci (L) is greeted by SIF CEO Philip Piccigallo.
Sons of Italy Trustee Maria Fassio Pignati sings the national anthems of Italy and the United States of America.
(L-R) SIF President Joseph DiTrapani, Italy's Ambassador to the United States Claudio Bisogniero and Sons of Italy National Past President Joseph Sciame
MITRE President & CEO Alfred Grasso receives the 2015 SIF Humanitarian Award.
(L-R) Sons of Italy National Past President Joanne Strollo, Sons of Italy State President of Delaware Joseph Facciolo and Charles Evans Foundation President Linda Munson Rothkopf
2014 SIF Humanitarian Honoree & Transport Workers Union International President Harry Lombardo (L) with guests during the reception.
Dr. Anthony Fauci addresses the crowd after receiving the 2015 Special Recognition Award for Science & Medicine.
(L-R) SIF President Joseph DiTrapani, Capt. Anthony Odierno (USA, Ret.), Gen. Raymond Odierno, and SIF President Emeritus Paul Polo
Master of Ceremonies Joe Mantegna snaps a selfie for Twitter.
Joe MantegnaAmbassador Bisogniero, and many other guests took to social media to talk about the gala. Search #nelagala to see the posts!
Terry O'Sullivan addresses the crowd after receiving the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service, which is presented annually to a person not of Italian heritage and reflects the significance of working together to build a better global community.
Geno Auriemma, unable to attend in person, receives the 2015 Special Award for Excellence in Sports Leadership.
Joe Mantegna with Maj. Khanh Diep
Guests at the NELA Gala
The awards given at the 27th NELA Gala (L-R): National Education & Leadership Award, Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service, Special Recognition Award for Science & Medicine and the Humanitarian Award
Guests enjoy the reception.
Corp. Joshua Himan (USMC, Ret.), recipient of an SIF/Help Our Military Heroes vehicle, and his mother Pat Himan
Anita McBride, former chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush, speaks with Dr. Anthony Fauci during dinner.
The Takoma Park Police Dept. Honor Guard presents the colors.
Guests of the 27th NELA Gala at the reception before the program begins.
Tenor Michael Amante entertains the crowd with classics from Les Mis�rables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Turandot.
The National Building Museum provides a breathtaking backdrop for the 
27th Annual NELA Gala.

� 2015 The Sons of Italy Foundation�

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�

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