FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Renate Geerlings
rgeerlings@qorvis.com
202-255-2744

QORVIS’ PETRUZZELLO HONORED BY SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION
Firm’s Managing Partner to Be Given Excellence in Business Award

Washington, DC – February 27, 2008 – Michael Petruzzello, founding and managing partner of Qorvis Communications, one of the largest independent advertising and public relations firms in the country, will receive the Excellence in Business Award from the Sons of Italy Foundation at a May 22, black tie dinner in Washington, DC.

A native of Fairview, New Jersey, Petruzzello will be honored along with Joseph Plumeri, chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings, who will receive the National Education and Leadership Award; Dr. Alfred Rotondaro, an Italian American activist, the Humanitarian Award; and Steve Wynn, American Developer/Wynn Resorts, who receives a special award for Global Vision and Philanthropy.

In learning about his award, Petruzzello said: “I am humbled and honored by this recognition. The first thing that came to mind was that I wish my grandfather was alive to share this with me.”

Petruzzello, who is a graduate of the Catholic University of America, will be honored at the 20th anniversary gala of the Sons of Italy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Order of the Sons of Italy, the nation’s oldest and largest national organization for people of Italian heritage. The event will be held in the historic National Building Museum in Washington, DC. The emcee will be film and television star Joseph Mantegna.

In receiving his award at the dinner that is expected to draw the major candidates in the 2008 presidential election, as well as major political, business, arts and social leaders from across the country, Petruzzello joins a list of previous Sons of Italy Foundation honorees, which include: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (National Education and Leadership Award), National Institutes of Health head of Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci (National Education and Leadership Award); National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia (National Education and Leadership Award); as well as entertainers Frank Sinatra (Humanitarian Award-posthumous); Tony Bennett (Humanitarian Award); and Regis Philbin (Lifetime Achievement Award).

Petruzzello co-founded Qorvis Communications in Washington, DC in 2000, and has expanded the company with a diversified client list that includes the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Pratt & Whitney,  Amazon.com; Virginia Lottery, Cisco, The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Keep America Beautiful, Beam Global Spirits and Wine, and Adobe.

Before establishing Qorvis, Petruzzello was the chief executive officer of Shandwick North America, the largest agency in North America, where he served on the Global Executive Marketing Team; chairman of the Mergers Acquisition Task Force; Director of Global Marketing and Business Development; and Director of Industry Practice Groups. He was responsible for all aspects of management, including Shandwick’s 22 offices, $175 million in revenue and 1,200 employees.

Prior to becoming the CEO of Shandwick, Petruzzello was President of Shandwick Public Affairs in Washington from 1996 to 1998, transforming it into a top ten leader with more than $16 million in billing. He had also been a partner in Bozell Sawyer Miller and before that was executive vice president of E. Bruce Harrison Company where he managed five regional offices, including New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Monterrey, Mexico and Brussels, Belgium.

The main speaker for this year’s dinner has not yet been named. Speakers at recent dinners have included President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton and Italian President Silvio Berlusconi.

A number of scholarships are awarded at the dinner. Over the past 20 years, the Sons of Italy Foundation has contributed nearly $98 million to medical research and disaster relief as well as scholarships. Some of the benefiting organizations have included Cooley’s Anemia, Alzheimer’s, MS, Coaches vs. Cancer, Katrina Relief, The Children’s Inn at NIH, the National Law Enforcement Memorial, and the World War II Memorial.

About Qorvis

Qorvis Communications is one of the nation’s largest independent communications firms.  Formed in August 2000, Qorvis has offices in Washington, DC and McLean, VA.  Qorvis provides its clients with expertise in the areas of advertising, public and media relations, marketing communications, Internet campaigns, investor and financial relations, public affairs, grassroots and research and opinion surveys.  For more information, visit www.qorvis.com.