Italy 4 Real helps make teen’s wish to tour Italy come true -- Make-A-Wish Foundation teams up with local travel company

Italy 4 Real helps make teen’s wish to tour Italy come true
-- Make-A-Wish Foundation teams up with local travel company --

SEATTLE–Italy 4 Real, a Pacific Northwest-based travel company specializing in small
group tours to Italy and Europe, was approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to
grant a local teen her dream to experience Italy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a
national non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening
medical conditions.

“Italy 4 Real is proud to partner with the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Deborah de Maio, chief executive officer at Italy 4 Real. “If we can play a part in realizing the dream of a young girl who has gone through so much in her life, then we feel we’ve accomplished something good and meaningful.”

Italy 4 Real is a local tour company that offers exclusive small group tours to Italy of 16 guests or less, visiting handpicked locations, quaint inns, with unique itineraries.

Seventeen-year-old Brittany Fugatt, who has end-stage renal disease, will depart from
Seattle on June 26 and return July 7. Brittany’s wish is to travel to Italy with her family to experience its rich history and culture. Her trip includes a tour through Venice, Florence and Rome where the family will visit the forum, the ruins and the coliseum.

“Also, while I’m in Italy, I would like to look around the small markets and stuff like that; the whole touristy thing” said Brittany. “I would also like to do a little bit of shopping cause you have to get leather in Italy.”

”While the special memories of a wish experience cannot be measured in dollars and
cents, it can cost thousands of dollars to grant each wish,” said Sandra Pérez, Make-A Wish communications manager. “Yet, thanks to all our donors and volunteers, no child who qualifies for a wish is turned away.”

According to Jill Dean, Make-A-Wish wish coordinator, Italy 4 Real has expertly
organized all the details of Brittany’s upcoming vacation.

“They have been wonderful to work with,” said Dean. “I am so impressed with their
professionalism and the contacts they have in Italy. No request has been too big or too small. We were very lucky to find them.”

About The Make-A-Wish Foundation®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with dozens of chapters across the United States and its territories and international affiliates on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 100,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.northwestwishes.org or call 800-304-WISH.

About Italy 4 Real Tours, Llc.
Italy 4 Real, www.italy4real.com, is a subsidiary of Pacific Northwest-based travel
company; Travel 4 Real specializing in small group tours, custom itinerary and event
planning to Europe. Owned and operated by mother and son team, Deborah de Maio
and Rem Malloy, Italy 4 Real brings the history and culture of Italy to life.
Each tour is hand picked -- every hotel, room and restaurant. On its 13-day tour,
travelers are escorted by the owners of the company who make certain the highest
quality and customer service is received. Italy 4 Real is focused on providing travelers with a unique experience at a reasonable price without hidden costs.