FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 5, 2000

Release #158-00

MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI KICKS OFF THE
CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF
ITALIAN AMERICAN WOMEN

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani delivered opening remarks at the conference of the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) entitled Women of Italian Ancestry, Breaking Barriers in the New Millenium. Founded twenty years ago, NOIAW provides scholarships and programs dedicated to forming a national and international network for women of Italian ancestry.

Attending the conference are women from the United States, Italy, Australia, Canada and Argentina. Also speaking at the opening ceremonies were Princess Josephine Borghese of Italy; the Honorable Franca Arena of Australia; and Dr. Angela Solano of Argentina.

Mayor Giuliani said, "Through invaluable services like mentoring, scholarships, local networking and other important programs, NOIAW gives Italian American women the important tools they need to succeed, and I am pleased to honor the members of this organization today. On behalf of the people of New York City, I welcome the women from around the world who have come to New York City to attend this important conference."

The founder of NOIAW, Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D, said, "The National Organization of Italian American Women, the only national membership organization for women of Italian ancestry, is proud of its twenty years. We have provided role models and scholarships for our youth as well as a network for the business, professional, educational aspirations of our members - all in the service of developing pride in our Italian tradition."

NOIAW's President Maria Marinello said, "For the past twenty years, this organization has been uniting women of Italian ancestry. Our twentieth anniversary conference will be attended by women from all over the world who will be gathering to discuss issues that affect women of Italian heritage."

The conference is scheduled to run from May 4 through May 6 and will focus on the ground-breaking achievements of the last decades of the 20th Century, and what remains to be done to improve living and working conditions for women throughout the world.

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