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# 70 • OCTOBER 19 , 2015
Jeno Paulucci
consist and robust revenue stream,
its leadership began the publication
of the first ever IAF Washington Newsletter in January 1977. Introducing
the Foundation to its readership, the
newsletter reiterated the goals of the
IAF as promoting and publicizing “the
history and heritage and accomplishments of Italian Americans,” of coordinating and communicating a national
platform, and informing and educating the vast Italian American community. That summer, the newsletter
was already being distributed to over
65,000 Italian Americans. When the
Foundation released its first survey
seeking the opinions of our community on major issues confronting Italian
Americans, over 10,000 people responded and the results were computerized, cross tabulated, and analyzed
te a core group of financial supporters to provide one of the earliest assesto be known as the Council of 100. To sments of the national consciousness
Paulucci, the purpose of the Council of Italians in America.
was “financial and advisory,” a twofold
role that those Italian Americans who In May 1978, following a unanimous
desired an active voice in the commu- decision by the Foundation’s Board of
nity’s leadership could lend themsel- Directors, the word “National” was adves to so that the IAF would be able ded to the corporate title of the IAF.
to count on dedicated and generous Officially rechristened the National Italeaders throughout the nation.
lian American Foundation, the organization would from now on be known
In December 1976, the IAF’s first re- by the famous acronym of NIAF.
gional meeting was held at the landmark Alioto’s Restaurant in San Fran- As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s,
cisco (then the nation’s oldest Italian and Italian Americans gained national
American restaurant) to recruit mem- prominence in different professional
bers for the new initiative.
fields, including law, business, entertainment and politics, NIAF gained an
As the Council grew, and the Founda- increasingly prominent role as an antion found itself able to rely on a more ti-defamation organization for Italian
28 | WE THE ITALIANS
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