FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC – August 1, 2002)

The Declaration of Independence Road Trip today announced it will visit the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) annual convention. The NIAF will host the rare, original copy of the Declaration, owned by Producer Norman Lear, on Friday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington Hilton and Towers. The Declaration of Independence Road Trip (DOI) is a non-profit, nonpartisan project that is taking our nation’s birth certificate on a cross-country tour over the next three years. The DOI Road Trip is proudly sponsored by The Home Depot.

Norman Lear acquired a Dunlap broadside of the Declaration in June 2000 with the goal of bringing the “People’s Document” directly to Americans — especially young people – to inspire them to participate in civic activism, to exercise their rights, and above all, to vote. The Southern leg of the tour will begin on Sept. 11, 2002, in Charleston, S.C.

The Declaration of Independence will be on display during the NIAF conference, Contributions of Italians to the Founding of America, in the Georgetown Room (Terrace Level) of the Washington Hilton and Towers on Friday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Following the conference, attendees will be able to view the document in the Back Terrace area of the hotel until 5 p.m. that day. The conference and exhibit is free and open to the public.

The conference is part of the annual NIAF Gala Awards weekend that also features exhibits, a celebrity luncheon and auction and a tourism seminar. The Region of Friuli-Venezia Giula, this year’s sponsoring Italian region, will host a wine and food tasting event.

On Saturday evening, Oct. 26, the NIAF will hold its 27th Anniversary Awards Gala at the Washington Hilton and Towers at 6 p.m. The black-tie fund-raising dinner will honor Paul Chiapparone, vice chairman of Electronic Data Systems (EDS); Robert De Niro, actor; Christina Johnson, president & CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue; Sophia Loren, actress; Thomas (Tommy) D. Mottola, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and Robert Nardelli, chairman, president and CEO of The Home Depot.

Dinner tickets begin at $350 each. Proceeds from the event benefit the NIAF Scholarship and Education Programs.
For tickets or sponsor information, contact Lisa Pitocco at 202/939-3116202/939-3116.

Background on the DOI Road Trip
The Declaration will be showcased in a multi-media exhibition that is part of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a non-profit, nonpartisan project that is taking the document on a three year cross-country tour.

The Declaration of independence, one of 25 remaining Dunlap broadsides printed on July 4, 1776, is the only one traveling the country. Featuring historical and contemporary photographs, video and music, the multi-media exhibition illustrates the cherished values and ideals embodied in the revered document that laid the foundation for personal freedoms and individual rights. The exhibition also highlights social and political movements that helped shape the United States and it continues to influence countries around the world.

The Declaration of Independence Road Trip is proudly sponsored by The Home Depot, with additional funding by The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Annenberg Foundation and Lear Family Foundation. The DOI Road Trip is led by honorary co-chairs, former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. The project’s advisory board and partners include leaders from education, business, civic, youth service, cultural, entertainment, media and government organizations.

Founded in 1978, The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2001 sales of $53.6 billion. The company employs approximately 296,000 associates and has 1,400 stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, seven Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company, for the second year in a row, was named sixth Most Admired Company in America by Fortune magazine, which has also ranked it as America’s Most Admired Specialty Retailer for eight consecutive years. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

For additional information on the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, please visit www.IndependenceRoadTrip.org. A digital copy of the Declaration of Independence, map of the fall and winter 2002 schedule and b-roll are available upon request. Please contact Ashley Mowrey at 404-879-9150404-879-9150 or via email at ashley.mowrey@ketchum.com.