LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Gary Sinise, “CSI: NY” actor and producer, will be joined by fellow actors Dennis Haysbert; Robert Loggia; Joe Mantegna; Magnum PI’s Larry Minetti; Doris Roberts; Antonio Sabato, Jr.; entertainers Dom DeLuise and Fred Travalena; singer Al Martino; and Barbara Sinatra at the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Salute to the Academy Awards on March 3. The black-tie dinner will honor prominent Italian Americans in conjunction with the 78th Annual Academy Awards.The NIAF Salute to the Academy Awards will be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. It is also the culmination of the week-long Los Angeles Italian film, fashion and food festival.

Sinise will receive a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Entertainment from Mantegna, NIAF celebrity spokesperson, during the dinner. Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), will present a scholarship in his name to a University of Southern California student.

More information about the NIAF and this event HERE

On Saturday, March 18th, Gary will be honored as the recipient of the the first annual Pennsylvania Speaker’s Ben Franklin Award for Humanitarian Service at the 2006 Speaker’s Ball in Philadelphia. This annual event celebrates the March anniversary of the 1682 election of the first Speaker of the Pennsylvania House, the oldest elected legislative body in the nation. Proceeds from the event benefit the The Pennsylvania House Scholarship Program.Below is a link to the website for the event which includes the announcement about the Ben Franklin Award and a short write up about Gary and his accomplishments (and a nice photo of him too).

Speakers Ball

Ben Franklin Award

Congratulations to Gary, once again!