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 a tour led by Italian American historian and author Dominic Candeloro. The tour will highlight the contributions and history of Italian Americans in Chicago.

The tour begins at 10 a.m. at NIAF’s office in Chicago at 68 E. Wacker Place, across from the Hotel Monaco, and will last approximately two hours. Transportation will be provided. To reserve call 1/800-989-NIAF ext. 160.

This event is 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, Illinois has a population of 730,000 Italian Americans or 6 percent of the population.