The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) brought together more than 700 guests from the United States and Italy on Thursday, April 23, 2026, for its annual New York Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, honoring six distinguished Italian Americans and saluting NIAF's 2026 Region of Honor, Lombardia.
The evening also marked a historic cinematic moment: the exclusive world premiere promo for The First Dollar, an upcoming RAI Cinema biopic directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore, telling the story of Amadeo Peter Giannini — one of the most consequential Italians in American history.
"Tonight exemplified exactly why NIAF exists," said NIAF President and CEO Robert Allegrini. "We gather every year to celebrate the Italians and Italian Americans who have shaped this nation — and as America marks its 250th anniversary, there is no more powerful reminder of that legacy than the story of A.P. Giannini."
A Story Made for This Moment
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of its founding, NIAF — the first official partner of the Embassy of Italy for America250 — chose the New York Gala as the venue for the exclusive premiere of the The First Dollar trailer, introduced by RAI Cinema CEO Paolo Del Brocco.
Giannini's story is as American as it is Italian. The son of Ligurian immigrants, born in California in 1870, he founded the Bank of Italy in San Francisco — later Bank of America — and in doing so transformed the nation's financial landscape. He was the first banker to extend credit to working people, immigrants, women, and families who had never before had access to capital. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, he reopened his bank amid the rubble — using a plank across two barrels as his desk — to restore confidence to a devastated city and personally fund the rebuilding effort.
Giannini's reach extended far beyond banking. He financed the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. He bankrolled Hollywood's early pioneers, backing Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, and Frank Capra — including the financing of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated feature film. He supported the New Deal and, later, the Marshall Plan. He built an empire and gave most of his fortune away.
The First Dollar, directed by Tornatore and produced by Kavac Film (Simone Gattoni and Marco Bellocchio) with RAI Cinema, will bring this extraordinary life to the screen. In a video message played for Gala attendees, Tornatore described the themes he intends to explore, drawing enthusiasm and sustained applause from the audience.
"An Italian, the son of immigrants, who transformed the American banking system while never forgetting the people most in need," said Del Brocco. "In the hands of a master like Giuseppe Tornatore, Giannini's story can only result in great cinema."
NIAF is proud to have hosted the world's first public presentation of the film.
Honoring Italian American Excellence
The Gala recognized six honorees with the Dea Roma award — a custom sculpture by Roman artist Dante Mortet inspired by the iconic figure presiding over Rome's Altar of the Fatherland — and the NIAF A. Bartlett Giamatti Academic Friendship Award:
Carlo Alberto Giusti, Magnificent Rector of Link Campus University — NIAF A. Bartlett Giamatti Academic Friendship Award
Frank Ruocco, Executive Vice President of Operations, Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City — Dea Roma Special Achievement Award in Business & Hospitality
James Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN — Dea Roma Special Achievement Award in Sports & Entertainment Business
Linda Stasi, Novelist — Dea Roma Special Achievement Award in Literature
Tom Cox, Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Group — Dea Roma Special Achievement Award in Business
Hon. Alfonse M. D'Amato, Former United States Senator, State of New York — Dea Roma Special Achievement Award in Public Service
Saluting Lombardia — NIAF's 2026 Region of Honor
The evening paid tribute to Lombardia, NIAF's 2026 Region of Honor, a region that embodies the innovation, artistry, and entrepreneurial spirit that have long defined the Italian contribution to the world. Representing Lombardia at the Gala was Undersecretary Raffaele Cattaneo and Councilor for Welfare Guido Bertalaso, whose presence underscored the deep and enduring partnership between the region and the Italian American community.
The evening was also attended by His Excellency Ambassador Marco Peronaci, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, along with a distinguished roster of Italian and Italian American civic, cultural, and institutional leaders.
The program was hosted by NIAF Celebrity Ambassador Joe Piscopo, with musical performances by international classical-crossover vocalist Christopher Macchio, known as "America's Tenor."
