The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is pleased to announce that NIAF Chairman Patricia de Stacy Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), interviewed Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This exclusive interview centers around Dr. Fauci’s Italian American heritage and its influence on his impressive public health career along with discussing COVID-19; the interview will premiere at NIAF’s 45th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

Since 1984, Dr. Fauci has advised six presidents on domestic and global health issues. He has been at the forefront of U.S. efforts to meet the challenge of viral diseases such as HIV, SARS, the 2009 swine flu pandemic, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19.

“It was an honor and a pleasure to sit down—virtually—with Dr. Fauci and hear how proud he is of his Italian American heritage,” said NIAF Chairman Patricia de Stacy Harrison. “We look forward to bringing our Italian American community together to honor Dr. Fauci for his leadership, his extraordinary contribution to lifesaving health research and to celebrate our shared Italian American heritage and values with him during NIAF’s Gala. This interview is a sentimental and powerful contribution to the Gala’s special program.”

NIAF is the nation’s premier Italian American organization serving as a bridge between the United States and Italy, strengthening mutual understanding through governmental, economic and cultural ties. Education is the core of our mission as we provide scholarships and grants to institutions and high achieving students to further their education in all fields and connect to their heritage.

In recognition of Dr. Fauci’s life saving work, NIAF is establishing the Fauci Fellowships. The Fauci Fellowships will be initiated with a post-doctoral research grant of $100,000 to be divided equally between an American candidate and an Italian candidate. The inaugural Fellowships will be to support research in infectious diseases in recognition of Dr. Fauci’s contributions to humanity and the medical and scientific community.

In addition, Dr. Fauci will be presented with NIAF’s 2020 Leonardo da Vinci Award for Leadership in Health and Science live during the Gala. The award is an original sculpture of Leonardo da Vinci, created and executed by Dante Mortet, a sixth-generation Italian sculptor in Rome whose family began making chalices for the Pope more than 120 years ago.

As a membership benefit, NIAF Sustaining Members and higher will receive a free invitation upon registration. Those who would like to register for our virtual Gala as a non-NIAF Member, can purchase a ticket today and receive a one-year Sustaining Membership for supporting NIAF’s Virtual Gala. For those who would prefer to remain a non-NIAF Member and still attend, the ticket price costs $100.

Please consider joining the Foundation and Dr. Fauci by registering for a virtual gala ticket. Only one registration link is needed per household and cannot be shared with anyone else. For membership and registration details, visit: www.niaf.org/gala.