News Release

10/06/08
New Book by Prominent Local (East Bay) Doctor Celebrates “GROWING UP ITALIAN” In Rhode Island; two chances to meet the author at PPL

Local author talk by Dr. Ed Iannuccilli a Fundraiser for Computers at Providence Public Library Branches

Providence Public Library (PPL) is proud to host a visit by Dr. Edward Iannuccilli, local Rhode Island author of the recently released Growing up Italian: Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories, on Wednesday, October 15, 6:00—8:30 pm at Central Library, 150 Empire Street. Books will be available for sale and signing.

The event is a fundraiser, the proceeds of which will be used toward a matching challenge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for computers at PPL neighborhood branches. Over the course of the next two years, the Gates Opportunity Online hardware grant to PPL is $71,500 toward funding a total of 44 computers in seven of the Library’s nine neighborhood branches. PPL must raise a total of $42,900 in grant matching funds. Tickets to this event are $100 and $250. For information on attending or supporting the Library’s matching grant, contact Dawn Kelly at dkelly@provlib.org or call 455-8050.

The Opportunity Online hardware grant program is a two-year program designed to help libraries sustain technology services and strengthen their capacity to conduct advocacy and secure local funding. PPL will use the grant and matching funds to update and replace existing technology in branches.

About the Author and His Book
Remember a simpler time, when your house was filled with the aroma of Italian bread and grandma’s “gravy”? When Christmas Eve was La Vigilia? Going to The Boston Store on the bus with your mother? Maybe you recall piling into the family car on Sundays to head for Lido’s Beach? Grandpa’s homemade wine? The older folks playing La Morra under the grape arbor?

Whether you share these memories or not, you’ll love the nostalgic journey offered in the book Growing up Italian: Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories by Ed Iannuccilli. Released in July by Woonsocket-based Barking Cat Books, Growing up Italian is a collection of charming stories covering all the wonders, joys, fears, anticipations and mysteries of childhood in an Italo-American family. But it also will summon up memories of Providence in the 1940s and 1950s for anyone who lived them or has heard about them from older loved ones.

A Providence native, Ed Iannuccilli is a distinguished physician, educator and innovator in Rhode Island. He was the first appointed Clinical Professor at Brown University Medical School and is a former Chairman of the Board at Rhode Island Hospital. He also served on the board of Lifespan. As one of the founding principals of Ocean State Physicians Health Plan (later to become United Health Care), Dr. Iannuccilli became its third Chairman of the Board. Dr. Iannuccilli and his wife, Diane, live in Bristol. Growing up Italian is his first book.

For more information, visit www.barkingcatbooks.com.

Providence Public Library is committed to providing quality programming on a variety of educational topics. The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Library. We welcome community members to work with us to provide free, thought-provoking events of interest.

A 130-year-old private, not-for-profit institution, Providence Public Library is dedicated to providing free educational, lifelong learning and enrichment opportunities for all, regardless of background, age or income.