Inspired by his self-made succesfull family, John Viola decided to turn NIAF (The National Italian American Foundation) into the leading educational and cultural non-profit - not only for the twenty-five million Americans of Italian descent - but also for the over two hundred million in the Italian diaspora. Viola’s mission is to create a young and dynamic bridge between the United States and Italy by awarding one million dollars in yearly scholarships.

NIAF also donates five hundred thousand dollars annually in grants, and supports a myriad of cultural projects. The foundation under his leadership is constantly championing the Made in Italy brand, and the best of Italian businesses in the United States.