Sister City Rattled by Italian Quake (Update at Bottom)

This just in from Vicky Carabini, the San Juan Capistrano resident who is our ambassador to our sister city, Capestrano, Italy:

I just got off the phone with Nicola Colantonio, Councilman from Capestrano, Italy. Fortunately, no one was killed in our sister city but there is significant damage to the church. At this time not all of the damage has been determined. Many of the vendors that came here from Abruzzi live in L'Aquila, the epicenter of the earthquake. Nicola promised to keep me informed about their safety. An earthquake relief fund with NIAF - National Italian American Foundation has been established.

See press release for more information below. I believe we should send a letter to Capestrano at this time to let them know that we are thinking of them.

(WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 6, 2009) *The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has established a special Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund to help the victims and their families who perished from the recent earthquake in the town of L’Aquila and other small towns in central Italy in the region of Abruzzo.

"NIAF extends its sincerest condolences to the victims and their families suffering from the recent earthquake that struck residents as they slept. This tragic disaster has claimed the lives of innocent people. Words cannot convey the Foundation’s sense of loss for the victims. Our hearts and prayers are with them and the rescue workers, who are frantically trying to save those who remained trapped in the debris," National Executive Director *James R. De Santis*, said.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3 reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, has resulted in the deaths of 92 people with approximately 1,500 people injured and many people still missing. With residents still buried under the debris of the collapsed buildings, rescue workers continue to work diligently to save the remaining trapped victims.

Between 30,000 and 40,000 people are believed to have lost their homes and Italian authorities are working to find them shelter before nightfall.

Individuals, corporations and foundations who wish to donate to the Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund can make their donations online at

www.niaf.org/relief <http://www.niaf.org/relief>. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about NIAF’s efforts in L’Aquila and its neighboring towns, visit www.niaf.org <http://www.niaf.org/> for the latest updates.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent.*

UPDATE

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has established a special Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund to help the victims and their families who perished from the recent earthquake in the town of L'Aquila and other towns in central Italy in the region of Abruzzo.

San Juan Capistrano's Sister City, Capestrano (Abruzzi, Italy) - located about 70 miles from Rome - is a small medieval town in the province of L'Aquila in the foothills of the Gran Sasso National Park. Capestrano is a city within the Abruzzo region. It is the birthplace of San Giovanni da Capestrano, or St. John of Capestrano - San Juan Capistrano in Spanish.

The death toll from the earthquake, a 6.3 magnitude according to the U.S. Geological Survey, continues to rise with several people injured and still missing.

For information about how to help, contact NIAF at www.niaf.org/relief.

Comments

[Pauline N. Fromer]

Dear Nicola:
I am so glad that you are in contact with "the outside world". I have been in touch with my friends to see how everything is in Capestrano and to see if my house is still standing.

I hope to return to Capestrano in June.

Pauline (from South Africa)