This NIASHF Project started with about a year to go, and is doing well.

It is situated in the old Italian Taylor St. area once a port of entry for 
new Italian immigrants and where only Italians lived..others shunning the 
area.

Today the area has been revitalized and EVERYBODY wants to live in it
because of it's proximity to the downtown area and jobs.

Area facing the museum has been configured into a European style square with
a huge statue of Di Maggio facing a fountain which runs in the summer months.

Museum should help revitalize area even more as once it is up and running the 
tourists will pour in from all over and the museum will increase Italian 
pride.
A plus for the museum is it's proximity to the down town hotels

[RAA Note:
I am SO delighted to see that NIASHF is alive and prospering. I became aware 
of it some 30 years ago, and more recently had tried without success to find it.
I was in dread that it may have met a terrible fate. What a RELIEF!!!!
 
Various facilities within the Project are available for "naming" opportunities. 
See SPONSORSHIPS. NIASHF would seem an ideal project for each of the 
Major I-A Organizations to show I-A "solidarity"!!!!] 

http://niashf.org/index.html
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XXV ANNIVERSARY INDUCTION & AWARDS CEREMONIES 
SATURDAY MARCH 23, 2002 
CHICAGO HILTON TOWERS

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit 
educational institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and 
heritage of Italian Americans in sports by exhibiting and interpreting its 
collections for a world-wide audience, and honoring Italian American heroes 
who have made lasting contributions to sports and society.

.....  CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP ..... 
 
"The Hall of Fame will be a place where our Italian-American history and 
heritage are triumphantly celebrated." ---Jerry Colangelo - Chairman, Board 
of Trustees "In our new Taylor Street museum, we'll tell the universal stories of 
Italian-American culture...of family, faith and friendship."--George Randazzo 
- Founder and Chairman

Since its founding in 1978, more than two hundred glorious champions of sport 
have been enshrined in the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. 
 
Today, at long last, we're building a world-class Hall of Fame and museum on 
land donated by the City of Chicago on Taylor Street in the heart of 
Chicago's "Little Italy."  In the 40,000 square foot masterpiece, we'll honor 
the grace and glory of Italian-American athletes. 
 
Visitors to the new museum will come face-to-face with the passion of Italian 
heritage and learn why DiMaggio, Retton, Marciano, Biondi and Lombardi 
achieved such greatness on the "field of dreams" as well as in life.  Through 
state-of-the-art exhibits and programming, people from all walks of life, 
especially children, will celebrate and experience championship 
Italian-American qualities such as pride and perseverance. 
 
We invite you to review our vision and strategic plan for the bricks and 
mortar of a Hall of Fame for Italian-American legends of sport.  For our 
dreams of a permanent home to become a reality, we'll need the generous 
support of people like you.  Grazie Mille! 
  
EXHIBITS & PROGRAMMING      
From Rocky Marciano's Championship belt to Vince 
Lombardi's last Packer coat; from Alan Ameche's Heisman Trophy to Mario 
Andretti's Indy 500 race car; and from Gene Sarazen's golf knickers to Matt 
Biondi's eleven Olympic medals, the Hall of Fame's collection is second to 
none. 
 
To tell the rich stories of Italian-American champions, we've retained Busch 
Creative Services, one of the world's foremost sports museum design firms to 
create and develop the Hall's exhibits.  The resulting "must-see" Hall of 
Fame and museum will include an exciting blend of participatory kiosks, 
knock-your-socks-off audio-visuals, detailed environments, colorful static 
displays, and other state-of-the-art exhibit technologies. 
 
The $3 million exhibit and programming goal will enable the Hall of Fame to 
create cutting-edge exhibitions, imaginative attractions, and inspiring 
programs.  At the Hall of Fame people will discover the passion of Lasorda, 
grace of Boitano, power of Marciano, discipline of Paterno, beauty of 
Fratiane, miracle of Eruzione, innovation of Luisetti, speed of Andretti, 
laughter of Berra, heartbreak of Piccolo, leadership of Montana, and the 
glory of DiMaggio. 

Temporary Headquarters: 
NIASHF 
2100 E. Devon Ave. 
Elk Grove Village, IL  60007 
Phone: (847) 952-9766  
Fax: (847) 952-9767 

Soon to be Permanent Headquarters: 
NIASHF 
1431 W. Taylor St. 
Chicago, IL  60607 

E-Mail: 
George Randazzo      george@niashf.org 
Tiffany Saviano          tiffany@niashf.org 
Ron Onesti                ron@onestientertainment.com