Wikipedia:National Italian American Foundation

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a United States nonprofit organization created to promote the history and interests of persons of Italian descent and American citizenship. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

History
The NIAF was founded April 26, 1975 in Washington by a group of 19 Italian-Americans led by Roman Catholic Monsignor Geno Baroni. Formed during a meeting of the group at the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs, the organization was envisioned as “a national office of Italian Americans...a centralized location for research and for the development of a national agenda of issues and goals formed by Americans of Italian ancestry.” Originally named the Italian-American Foundation, its first offices were located in downtown Washington and opened April 1, 1976. Two years later, it was officially renamed the National Italian American Foundation. Its current headquarters (since 1994) is in the Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Building at 1860 19th Street NW, on Dupont Circle.

The Foundation's website and Facebook page describe its current mission as "to serve as a resource for the Italian American Community; to preserve the Italian American heritage and culture; to promote and inspire a positive image and legacy of Italian Americans; and to strengthen and empower ties between the United States and Italy."

Activities
NIAF operates a number of institutional activities and programs in addition to its membership. Among them are scholarships and a campus program for higher education; funded annual trips to Italy for young Italian Americans; the NIAF Jack Valenti Institute and the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum Grant, which aid young Italian-American filmmakers; lobbying members of Congress and other government officials on issues of interest to the Italian American community; and promotion of regions of Italy in its "Region of Honor" program.

The Foundation states that its "two most important purposes are to encourage Italian Americans to continue keeping their culturally rich heritage and traditions alive and present, and to ensure that the entire community never forgets the great contribution that Italians have made to the history and progress of the United States."