FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(WASHINGTON, DC – April 5, 2002) George L. Graziadio, Jr., chairman of Commerica Bank – California in Inglewood, California and member of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Board of Directors, is one of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Horatio Alger Award from the National Press Club on April 5th at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. marks its 55th year to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of ten extraordinary Americans who have risen from humble beginnings to achieve personal and professional success. Joining Mr. Graziadio this year are: Louis C. Brock, Baseball Hall of Famer, St. Charles, MO; John W. Colloton, director & CEO Emeritus, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA; Richard K. Davidson, chairman, president &CEO, Union Pacific Corporation, Omaha, NE; James L. Doti, president, Chapman University, Orange, CA; Charles W. Durham, chairman & CEO, Durham Resources LLC, Omaha, NE; Katherine D. Ortega, former Treasurer of the United States, Washington, DC; Charles L. Overby, chairman & CEO, The Freedom Forum, Arlington, VA; James A. Patterson, owner/president, Pattco, LLC, Louisville, KY; and Delford M. Smith, founder & chairman, Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., McMinnville, OR.

“George Graziadio, throughout his many years of dedicated service, continues to bring great honor upon himself, his family, community and Italian heritage,” said NIAF President Joseph R. Cerrell. “George, we are very proud of you, ” added Cerrell.

The 2002 Horatio Alger Award represents a belief in the American Dream and making it a reality-by overcoming incredible personal adversity through positive thinking, determination and hard work. The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is a non-profit educational association providing more than $3 million in college scholarships to high school seniors around the nation.

Graziadio, along with George M. Eltinge, also founded Imperial Bank in Los Angeles. Through Eltinge and Graziadio Development Company, Graziadio developed over 100 shopping centers in 20 states. Graziadio is past president and founding director of the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Health Care Foundation and is also chairman of the board of visitors at the George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and the namesake of the George L. Graziadio Chair of Italian Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Throughout his life, Graziadio has been the recipient of many honors including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award in Humanitarian Service during the 1997 Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, DC.