National Football League Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl Champion Franco Harris, recipient of the Special Achievement Award in Sports, told the audience about being raised in a household with an Italian mother and an African-American father. He noted that his mother often told stories of her experiences in Italy during World War II, and these stories made him comprehend the sacrifices she endured on behalf of her children. “Going to Italy,” Harris said, “did it help me understand and appreciate my Italian heritage? It really did.”
Proceeds from The National Italian American Foundation’s 41st Anniversary Gala will benefit the Foundation’s educational programs. To learn more about The National Italian American Foundation, please visit www.niaf.org
