Dreams really do come true. "We're halfway there!" exclaimed Dominic Candeloro, co-chair of the Campaign to Create an Endowed Professorship of Italian American Studies at Loyola University Chicago.

"We started formally about a year ago and the first nine months were really challenging, but year-end donations in 2013 brought us within striking distance of our $500,000 goal. " Counting both gifts received and solid pledges, the committee has raised a little more than $300,000!

Candeloro and co-chair Anthony Fornelli have been spearheading the committee ever since Loyola President and CEO Fr. Michael Garanzini offered an incentive match if the Chicago Italian community could raise $500,000. (He promised to provide the other $500,000 to create a one million dollar endowment that will insure that there will ALWAYS be a professor at Loyola dedicated to teaching, researching, publishing, and conducting community outreach focused on the history and culture of Italians in America. This opportunity will create a seat at the academic table at a major highly ranked and international university focused on the epic story of our immigrant forebears, and on us. Said Fornelli, "When we get the next $200,000, that will leverage the University's $500,000----We can't afford NOT to do this!"

For more information on the Loyola project go to www.LUC.edu/italianamerican/ or the Facebook Page www.facebook.com/italianamericanLoyola. Candeloro may be reached at 847-951-9109