FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

** Proceeds to Benefit NIAF Twin Towers Relief Fund**

Contact:
Maura Basili 011/39/ (335) 81 39 903
Elissa Ruffino 202/387-0600202/387-0600 ext. 135 or elissa@niaf.org

(MILAN – SEPTEMBER 6, 2002) World Champion Formula One Race Car Drivers Michael Schumacher, Ivan Capelli, Max Biaggi, Giancarlo Fisichella, Gabriele Tarquini, and Riccardo Patrese will compete in a game of soccer against the Fashion Designers All-Star Team to raise money for the victims of U.S. terrorist attacks.

The event, “Solidarity Races On The Thread of Style” is Wednesday evening, September 11 at Milan’s Civic Arena at 9 PM. Immediately following the soccer match, a gala dinner is scheduled at 11 PM at the Four Seasons’ Hotel. The soccer match is hosted by the Office of Tourism, Fashion and Great Events in Milan.

The Fashion Designers All-Star Team will include Marcello Lippi, the coach of Juventus (Italy’s champion team), Michelangelo Rampulla, goal keeper and Giovanni Bozzetti, assessor of fashion for the city of Milan. Representatives from Ferragamo, Etro, and Versace, will also be part of the team.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the families of those Italian Americans who perished during the tragic events of September 11. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) Twin Towers Relief Fund. Immediately following the terrorist attack, the NIAF established an educational fund for the children of the firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel and other rescue workers who perished in New York City. The fund was named in memory of deceased FDNY Chief Peter J. Ganci, a 32- year veteran with the New York City Fire Department who died in the collapse of New York City’s Twin Towers. FDNY Chief Daniel Nigro assisted the NIAF in gathering the names of hundreds of children of deceased rescue workers.

According to Milan’s Assessor Giovanni Bozzetti, “The tragedy of September 11 shook up not only the United States but the entire world population because it involved, above all, an attack on civilization. One year later, in order not to forget what happened, this event was organized thanks to the sensitivity of the Race Drivers and the Fashion Designers always on the frontline for solidarity initiatives. I invite the citizens of Milan to join with the Race Drivers and with the Fashion Designers in this great contest of solidarity.”

Later this month, the Drivers and the Fashion Designers will also play soccer to benefit Sostegno 70, Ragazzi Diabetici, Kinder in Not–UNESCO, the Andrea Tudisco Association, and the Department of Advanced Biomedical Research at the University of Padova.