FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

:: MEDIA ADVISORY ::

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

The tours begin at 2 p.m. on the steps of St. Peter and Paul church at Washington Square on Filbert Street. They will last approximately two hours and will take place rain or shine. The tours are provided by North Beach Tours. 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, California has a population of 1,448,432 Italian Americans or 4.8 percent of the population.