Highlights from Past NELA Galas

NELA HIGHLIGHTS Honorees &Special Guests

The 2018 NELA scholarship winners

President George W. Bush addresses the 2004 NELA

Dr. Michael J. Sofia, who discovered the cure for Hepatitis C, accepts the Humanitarian Award at the 2018 NELA NIAID (NIH) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci accepts the Special Recognition Award for Science and Medicine at the 2015 NELA

Five women trailblazers at the 2007 NELA

(L. to R.) Madeleine Albright, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro, Nancy Pelosi and Mary Landrieu

President Joe Biden, with First Lady Jill Biden and granddaughter Naomi, speaks about his ItalianAmerican wife at the 2009 NELA. (L. to R.) Then-SIF President Joseph J. DiTrapani, FIAT/ Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, and OSDIA National Past President Vincent Sarno at the 2013 NELA

The SIF proudly hosts many veterans at the 2018 NELA

AIDS & Cancer Researcher Dr. Robert Gallo accepts the 2002 NELA Award

SIF Trustee Joseph Cicippio (right) and his wife Elham with then-SIF President Joseph DiTrapani (middle), Matthew McCarville (left), and Karen McCarville at the 2017 NELA

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia talks with scholarship recipient Candice Aitken at the 1991 NELA

SIF President Joseph Sciame with Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S. Armando Varricchio at the 2016 NELA.

Singer of the United States and Italian Anthems, Maria Fassio Pignati, with the Takoma Park Police Department Honor Guard at the NELA ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. About 400 guests attend annually

Tony Bennett performs at the 2003 NELA (L. to R.) New York State Representative Susan Molinari, Glen Funicello, OSDIA National Past President Joanne Strollo, Annette Funicello, and OSDIA National Past President Peter Zuzolo at the 1993 NELA

Music Producer Quincy Jones introduces Honoree President Bill Clinton at the 2010 NELA (L. to R.) Justice Samuel Alito, Secretary Leon Panetta, and retired OSDIA Executive Director Philip Piccigallo at the 2014 NELA