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 two walking tours to highlight Italian and Italian American contributions to Boston, Massachusetts.

The tours start at 10 a.m. in Boston’s North End at Old North Square, opposite of the Paul Revere House. They will last approximately one hour and 30 minutes and will take place rain or shine. On October 12th, the tour will end at the Columbus Day Parade Route that is taking place later that same day. The walking tours are provided by NorthEndBoston.com. To reserve, call 1/800-989-NIAF ext. 160.

The tours are free and open to the public.

Highlights of the tour include seeing where the wake for Sacco and Vanzetti was held and walking the street where boxing champ Tony DeMarco grew up.

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, Massachusetts has a population of 845,432 Italian Americans or 14 percent of the population.