The Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF) welcomed distinguished guests, community leaders, scholarship recipients, and supporters to its 37th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
The Foundation's premier fundraising and public affairs event honored the Region of Umbria as OSDIA's 2026 Region of Celebration, while recognizing individuals whose leadership, service, and achievements have made a lasting impact in business, education, philanthropy, and Italian American culture.
"This partnership is a testament to the long and important friendship between the United States and Italy," said OSDIA National President Thomas A. Lupo in his remarks. "As the nation’s largest and oldest Italian American organization, OSDIA is honored to foster these transatlantic relationships and to celebrate the regions that have shaped our community—past, present, and future."
Serving as Honorary Co-Chair was Ambassador of Italy to the United States Marco Peronaci, while Stefania Proietti, President of the Region of Umbria, served as Honorary Chair. Both delivered remarks highlighting the enduring relationship between Italy and the Italian American community and the importance of preserving Italian heritage and culture for future generations.
"Throughout the years, OSDIA and the Sons of Italy Foundation have been protecting and promoting the Italian heritage, greatly contributing to strengthening the relations between Italy and the United States," said Ambassador Peronaci during his remarks.
President Proietti also emphasized the importance of U.S.-Italy relations, saying "Tonight, I want to thank you... [for keeping alive] the special bond between Italy and the United States by protecting language, culture, traditions, and identity for future generations." She added that "Umbria is a land of historic cities, beautiful landscapes, outstanding food and wine, timeless Italian elegance, and exceptional quality of life."
During the evening, some distinguished honorees were recognized. Further enhancing the evening were Sal "The Voice" Valentinetti, serving as Master of Ceremonies, and acclaimed tenor Christopher Macchio, who provided special performances as the Gala's Musical Guest.
Another highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Sons of Italy Foundation's 2026 scholarship recipients. Selected from a record-breaking pool of applicants, this year's scholars were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community service. The Foundation awarded more than $220,000 in scholarships to deserving undergraduate and graduate students of Italian descent, continuing its longstanding commitment to educational excellence.
"Since its founding in 1959, the Sons of Italy Foundation has invested tens of millions of dollars in the futures of bright, ambitious Italian American students through its National Leadership Grant Program," said National Executive Director Shayla Kaestle during her opening remarks, adding that "This year’s scholarship program has proven to be one of the most selective in recent years, with nearly one thousand applicants from across the United States."
The Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF) is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), supporting scholarships, medical research, disaster relief, cultural preservation, and veterans’ initiatives nationwide. Since its founding, SIF has contributed tens of millions of dollars to charitable causes, including awarding more than $600,000 in scholarships over the past four years to outstanding students across the country.
