Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org


:: MEDIA ADVISORY ::

EVENT: Celebrating Italian American Heritage Month with Free Walking Tours in New York City
Sponsor: The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
When: Monday, October 13th at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 19th at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 25th at 10:30 a.m.
Where: New York, NY
Media Contact: Elissa Ruffino, (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org
Program Contact: Serena Cantoni, 202/939-3111 or serena@niaf.org

To celebrate Italian American Heritage Month, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the premier ethnic organization for Italian Americans, is hosting three walking tours in Manhattan highlighting the contributions and history of Italian Americans.

The tours start at Washington Square Park at Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North behind the Arch. They will last approximately two hours and will take place rain or shine. The tours are being provided by I’ll Take Manhattan. To reserve, call 1/800-989-NIAF ext. 160.

The tours are free and open to the public.

The year 2003 marks the 27th anniversary of the designation of October as Italian American Heritage Month by the President. The proclamation was made in 1976 by President Jimmy Carter.

According to the United States Census 2000, New York has a population of 2,843,872 Italian Americans or 15.8 percent of the population.