th
# 70 • OCTOBER 19 , 2015
chi Memorial Concert. A partnership
between NIAF and Mrs. Eva Franchi,
the widow of the great Italian American tenor and long-time NIAF supporter Sergio Franchi, the concert would
develop into one of the nation’s leading venues for young musical talent.
Today, it is celebrated as one of the
most important musical events of the
New England summer.
are the fifth largest ethnic group in the
nation,” said NIAF’s second Chairman
Frank D. Stella. “But there is no official
recognition of them in the nation’s
capital. The NIAF has decided to do
something about this.” As a permanent memorial to hundreds of Italian
Americans who were instrumental in
NIAF’s creation and success, the Italian
American Wall of Honor has grown
today include a web-based version
1995–2005: This Marriage of Past and so that the stories of these dedicated
Present
men and women can be permanently
honored at the Secchia Building and
In June, 1994, the spirit of NIAF was fo- shared with the world and future gerever changed when the organization nerations everywhere.
inaugurated its new headquarters at
1860 19th Street NW in Washington, In the decade that would follow the
D.C. What today proudly bears the move, the Foundation came into its
name the Ambassador Peter F. Secchia own not only as a clear leader of the
Building was designed as an Italianate Italian American agenda, but also as
villa in 1907. In the decades between a major part of the Washington, D.C.,
its construction and NIAF’s acquisition, calendar. During these years, NIAF’s
it was home to a girl’s school, a Forei- Annual Gala Weekend became one of
gn Service foundation, and a school of the most important social gathering
international studies. Moving to Du- spots for not just Italian Americans
Pont Circle, NIAF’s new home created from around the country, but for the
an embassy for the Italian American movers and shakers of Washington,
community in the nation’s capital. No D.C.
longer simply an organization seeking
to mobilize Italian American influence As the Foundation matured, and laid
in the halls of government, NIAF ente- these roots in the city of Washington,
red its third decade well aware of its so too did its signature event. The
responsibility as the nation’s foremost NIAF Gala Weekend had grown into
representative of the nearly 20 million a convention with the opening of the
Italian Americans.
Expo Italia and the hosting of dozens
of concurrent conferences, recepAs part of its efforts to honor that duty, tions, and events over the course of
NIAF’s leader’s inaugurated the new the Annual Weekend. The Foundation
building by unveiling the Italian Ame- continued to garner recognition and
rican Wall of Honor. “Italian Americans support from countless iconic hono32 | WE THE ITALIANS
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