SFLIHW Newsletter Issue #2
- bmastrangelo3
- May 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 19
San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk
May 2025
Celebrating a Giant Among Us:
A.P. Giannini, The Little Fellow Who Built Big Dreams
June 2nd Movie Screening & July 23rd Plaque Ceremony
On Monday, June 2nd, experience the story behind the man who financed dreams like the Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood’s first animated film. The documentary film screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Davide Fiore and the film’s producers. This special event honoring Amadeo Pietro “A.P.” Giannini is presented in collaboration with Italian Community Services, Museo Italo Americano, and the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation with support from Le Donne d’Italia. Light fare served at the Museo following the Q&A.
$20 - Movie Only
$35 - Movie & Reception
5:30 pm | Screening of A Little Fellow: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini
Fort Mason Center – Cowell Theater
2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94123
Toast Giannini’s enduring spirit with us at the Museo following the screening.
8:00 pm | Closing Reception at Museo Italo Americano
Fort Mason Center Building C – Museo Italo Americano
2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94123
Join us on July 23, 2025
On Wednesday, July 23rd, in partnership with Bank of America, the San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk unveils a permanent tribute to A.P. Giannini at Washington Square — in the heart of San Francisco’s Little Italy. Join us as we celebrate an extraordinary man whose vision helped shape California and the nation: Amadeo Pietro “A.P.” Giannini — banker, philanthropist, and a pioneer whose belief in the "little fellow" forever changed the course of American banking and industry.
Plaque Unveiling Ceremony
1600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
Open to the public, no reservations required
A.P. Giannini
"He ruled the bank by force of character, not by force of money." — Biographer James
A.P. Giannini’s influence wasn’t about wealth—it was about trust. His integrity outweighed the financial might of his competitors
Born in 1870 in San Jose to Italian immigrant parents, A.P. Giannini’s vision forever transformed the American banking industry. In 1904, frustrated by banks that turned away hardworking immigrants, he founded the Bank of Italy—the people’s bank. It would later become Bank of America, fueling California’s growth in agriculture, infrastructure, aerospace, and the film industry.
Giannini’s legacy is not just economic — it’s deeply human. He pioneered accessible banking services, survived the 1906 earthquake with ingenuity, and extended loans based on trust and community need. In a time when wealth too often meant exclusion, he proved that true prosperity comes from lifting others.
Financing American Dreams (1916-1946)
Giannini empowered visionaries and reshaped industries:
Instrumental in the founding of several enduring nonprofit organizations, including the A.P. Giannini Foundation and Italian Community Services (an SFLIHW member), serving as either a founder or as a member of the original board of directors
Funded Walt Disney’s Snow White, the first full-length animated film
Backed It’s a Wonderful Life and Gone with the Wind
Inspired the character of George Bailey
Helped finance the Golden Gate Bridge during the Great Depression
About San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk (SFLIHW)
The SFLIHW celebrates Italian Americans' cultural, historical, and entrepreneurial contributions to San Francisco and the nation. Through our bronze sidewalk plaques across North Beach, we proudly preserve and showcase the stories of those who have shaped our collective heritage.
We invite you to join us on June 2nd and July 23rd to honor a man whose belief in everyday people helped shape a better future for generations. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to preserving our rich heritage.
Warm regards,
Gina von Esmarch
President
San Francisco Little Italy Honor Walk
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