FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(Washington, DC – January 1, 2004) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will award more than 100 scholarships in the academic year 2004-2005. The NIAF has awarded nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants across the country since its inception. In 2003, the Foundation awarded more than $1.3 million in cultural and language grants, and scholarships to hundreds of students.

The NIAF scholarship program celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2003. It has grown from four scholarships of $250 each to over 100 scholarships that range from $2,500 to $15,000 each in the humanities, medicine, engineering, business, music, Italian language and culture and other specialized fields. Last year, the average scholarship was more than $4,000.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic merit and are academically outstanding. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 to apply.

Contributors to the NIAF scholarship program include individuals, corporations, and organizations across the U.S. The NIAF will also consider matching scholarships with other organizations.

To establish a NIAF scholarship, contact Serena Cantoni, NIAF director of scholarships and grants, at 202/939-3111, e-mail: serena@niaf.org. To apply for a 2004 -05 NIAF scholarship, visit: www.niaf.org/scholarships. The on-line application will be available in January 2004. Application deadline: April 30, 2004.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation dedicated to promoting the contributions of Italian Americans. The Foundation has a wide-range of programs that provide scholarships and grants, legislative internships in Congress, conferences and cultural seminars. Visit our website at www.niaf.org.