LITTLE ITALY MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (LIMA) AND FIGLI DI SAN GENNARO PRESENT CHECKS AND CASH TOTALING MORE THAN $18,000 TO BUDDY FORTUNATO, PUBLISHER OF THE ITALIAN TRIBUNE

Funds donated to Italian Tribune Relief Fund Established to Assist Survivors and Victims of the Devastating Earthquake in Central Italy in Early April

New York, NY, April 23, 2009: Joseph Mattone, President of Figli di San Gennaro, the not-for-profit community organization that has presented the annual Feast of San Gennaro in lower Manhattan since 1996, and Ralph Tramontana, owner of Sambuca’s Cafe and President of the Little Italy Merchants Association (LIMA), which represents most of the local restaurants, cafes and small shops in New York City’s historic Little Italy, today presented checks exceeding $18,000 to the Italian Tribune Relief Fund.

Buddy Fortunato, publisher of the Italian Tribune, the leading English language weekly newspaper servicing the Italian-American communities in the tri-state area, accepted the checks at a ceremony held this afternoon at La Mela Restaurant on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. Also present at the ceremony were Figli di San Gennaro committee members Emily DePalo, Anne Compaccia and Kenneth Marino, and LIMA Vice President Vincent Generoso, owner of Original Vincent’s Restaurant in Little Italy, one of the area’s oldest restaurants founded in 1904.

LIMA collected monies from its local members, as well as from diners and customers who visited Little Italy commercial establishments during the week of April 13 – 17, 2009.The drive was highlighted by a day-long collection on Thursday, April 16, when professional singers and performers, including the Tre Bella trio, Johnny Mandolin and singer Anthony Mazzella donated their time and entertained diners during the lunch and dinner hours.

LIMA members who donated funds included (in alphabetical order): Alleva Dairy, Angelos, Buona Notte, Caffe Palermo, Caffe Roma, Caffe Napoli, Casa Bella, Da Nico, Da Gennaro, Di Palo Fine Foods, Ferrara Bakery, Focolare, Giovanna’s, Grotta Azzura, Il Cortile, Il Palazzo, Il Piccolo Bufalo, La Bella Ferrara, La Mela, La Nonna, Little Italy Speakeasy, Original Vincent’s, Paesano, Pellegrino, Positano, Puglia, Rossi’s, Sambuca’s Café, Sofia’s Cucina, SPQR, Umberto’s Clam House, 119 Fashion Wholesalers, as well as local residents and visitors.