Congratulations to Joe Mantegna and Sons of Italy.

"FIRST MONDAY" (on Friday Evenings 9/8c) is an extremely well written show 
that is critically acclaimed, and explores important constitutional issues. 
I'm suprised the show is garnering as many as 6.5 million weekly viewers, 
with the "garbage mentality" of the majority of TV viewers. Therefore, enjoy 
"FIRST MONDAY" while you can, since the demographics may not be sufficient to 
sustain it. 

In any case, Joe Mantegna, and "FIRST MONDAY" Creator Donald P. Bellisario  
struck an important blow for Italian American Dignity!!!  
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JOE MANTEGNA TO BE GUEST OF HONOR AT SONS OF ITALY GALA

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2002 - Acclaimed actor Joe Mantegna, who portrays a
U.S. Supreme Court Justice in the hit CBS series “First Monday,” will be the
guest of honor at the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) gala next month in
Washington, D.C.

The SIF, a leading Italian-American philanthropic organization, will hold
its 14th annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala, May 22,
2002, at the National Building Museum, to raise funds for its education and
cultural programs. The SIF will recognize Mantegna at the gala for his
involvement on the series, as Italian-American Justice Joe Novelli, and for
promoting positive images of Italian Americans.

Mantegna’s career encompasses stage, screen and television. He received a
Tony Award for his Broadway performance in “Glengarry Glen Ross” and an Emmy
for  “Bleacher Bums,” which he conceived and co-authored.

In Hollywood, Mantegna’s impressive feature film credits include “Alice,”
“Searching for Bobby Fischer, ” and “An Eye for An Eye,” among many others.
His numerous television appearances include “State of Emergency, ” “A Call
to Remember,” “Boy Meets Girl,” and “The Rat Pack,” for which he was
nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.

A native of Chicago, Mantegna currently lives in Los Angeles with his family
while filming “First Monday,” his first television series.

Also honored that evening will be Robert Gallo, M.D., director of the
Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland
Biotechnology Institute in Baltimore.  He will receive the SIF 2002 NELA for
his work in cancer and AIDS research.

Labor leader Martin Maddaloni, general president of the United Association
of Journeymen and Apprentices (UA), will be honored with the SIF
Humanitarian Award.

About 1,000 guests attend the annual black tie gala. Past guests include the
president of the United States, Cabinet officers, members of Congress, and
such celebrities as Tony Bennett, Tommy Lasorda, Regis Philbin, Larry King
and Sam Donaldson.

The SIF is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America
(OSIA), the nation’s largest organization for people of Italian heritage.
OSIA was founded in 1905 and has 575,000 members and supporters along with a
grass roots network of more than 700 chapters across the nation.

Since 1959, the SIF has contributed more than $77 million to medical
research, disaster relief, education, and cultural programs.

Tickets are $500.00 each and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by
federal law.  For tickets and other information, call 202/547-2900, e-mail
sif@osia.org, or visit the SIF Web site at www.osia.org.
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NEWS  For Immediate Release

Press Contact: Diane Crespy, communications manager
                      (202) 547-8115; dcrespy@osia.org
                      www.osia.org
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