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See our Work > Present > Ellis Island Medalists Make Dreams Come True in Chicago
Ellis Island Medalists Make
Dreams Come True in Chicago
The National Italian Sports Hall of Fame is a magnificent 44,000 square foot facility located in the heart
of Chicago’s historic Little Italy. With a gift of land from the City of Chicago and grants from the State of
Illinois, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (NIASHF) was selected to be the cultural anchor of
this redeveloping neighborhood.

NIASHF is celebrated for three distinct reasons: its educational focus on values and sportsmanship; its
world-class sports memorabilia collection; and its generous charitable programs, which have provided over
$6-million in scholarships to underserved children and over $200,000 in support for physically challenged
athletes across the country. The funds are distributed without regard to race, creed or gender. Their
memorabilia collection is equally impressive. It includes Joe DiMaggio’s Yankees uniform and autographed
glove, Mary Lou Retton’s slippers from her perfect 10 vault, Rocky Marciano’s Heavyweight Championship belt,
Matt Biondi’s 11 Olympic medals, and Mario Andretti’s Indy 500 race car.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipients: Mohammad Ali and Joe DiMaggio
In 1977, Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient George Randazzo established the National Italian American
Boxing Hall of Fame to raise money for inner-city youth programs. The first induction dinner honored 23 former
Italian American boxing world champions-including Rocky Graziano and Jake LaMotta. The results were so
overwhelming that the following year NIASHF was founded as a nonprofit, educational institution.

Twenty-two years later, Randazzo turned to another Ellis Island Medalist, Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO
Jerry Colangelo, to chair the building project in Little Italy. Colangelo has been so successful in bringing
together civic-minded individuals from around the country that the new facility was named the Jerry Colangelo
Center in tribute to him.

With NECO’s help, NIASHF is now mounting a major exhibit about immigration to America, which will include
footage from the Ellis Island Medals of Honor.

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