Celebrities Gather for Gala Salute to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles

Celebrities Gather for Gala Salute to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles

Gary Sinise Receives Award From Joe Mantegna

Jack Valenti Presents Scholarship

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary Sinise, "CSI: NY" actor and producer, will be joined by fellow actors Dennis Haysbert; Robert Loggia; Joe Mantegna; Magnum PI's Larry Minetti; Doris Roberts; Antonio Sabato, Jr.; entertainers Dom DeLuise and Fred Travalena; singer Al Martino; and Barbara Sinatra at the National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) Salute to the Academy Awards on March 3. The black-tie dinner will honor prominent Italian Americans in conjunction with the 78th Annual Academy Awards.

The NIAF Salute to the Academy Awards will be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. It is also the culmination of the week-long Los Angeles Italian film, fashion and food festival.

Sinise will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Entertainment from Mantegna, NIAF celebrity spokesperson, during the dinner. Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), will present a scholarship in his name to a University of Southern California student.

Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine will chair the gala. Tom Dreesen will be the evening's emcee.

The gala is in support of the Foundation's scholarship and education programs. The Baglioni Hotels, Fiera Milano, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Provincia di Pistoria and Spadafora Jewelry are proud to join NIAF in sponsoring the evening. Tickets to the NIAF Salute to the Academy Awards range in price from $500 to $1,000 per person. For tickets and more information, contact Bonni Cellini at 202/939-3114.

The NIAF is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to preserving the heritage of an estimated 25 million Americans of Italian descent. Visit our website at: http://www.niaf.org/

Los Angeles, Italia 2006 arrives in Hollywood beginning Sunday, February 26th through Saturday, March 4th. The festival promotes Italian artistic identity in the U.S., and introduces current Italian achievements to America. It is sponsored by Capri in the World Institute, the Lazio Region of Italy, RAI Trade, Cinecitta Holding with NIAF and the Cim Group. For more information, visit: http://www.losangelesitalia.com/.

Source: National Italian American Foundation

CONTACT: Elissa Ruffino of the National Italian American Foundation,
+1-202-939-3106, elissa@niaf.org

Web site: http://www.niaf.org/
http://www.losangelesitalia.com/

-------
Profile: intent