National Order Sons of Italy in America
The National Office works on:
Public Affairs
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Meeting with government leaders, White House officials, members of the U.S. Congress and senior federal government officials on issues of concern to Italian Americans
Meeting with government leaders, White House officials, members of the U.S. Congress and senior federal government officials on issues of concern to Italian Americans •Developing relationships with other ethnic and minority groups
Developing relationships with other ethnic and minority groups •Working with the Italian government and corporate leaders to strengthen cultural and business relations between the United States and Italy
Working with the Italian government and corporate leaders to strengthen cultural and business relations between the United States and Italy •Public advocacy of worthwhile causes and legislation Example: OSIA actively supports legislation and initiatives by the federal government and international governing bodies that have a significant effect on our members and Italian Americans at large. Included are the recent petitioning for a permanent role for Italy on the United Nations Security Council, support for the "Wartime Violations of Italian American Civil Liberties Act" and endorsement of a congressional resolution to recognize the contributions of Antonio Meucci, to name a few. OSIA has a strong commitment to fostering good relations and active communication with our government officials. Through petition and letter-writing campaigns; press releases and articles in “Italian America”, the official publication of OSIA; participation in press conferences and testimonials to Congress; and meetings with key leaders to support particular legislation or initiatives, OSIA remains at the helm of public affairs for the Italian American community.
Public advocacy of worthwhile causes and legislation Example: OSIA actively supports legislation and initiatives by the federal government and international governing bodies that have a significant effect on our members and Italian Americans at large. Included are the recent petitioning for a permanent role for Italy on the United Nations Security Council, support for the "Wartime Violations of Italian American Civil Liberties Act" and endorsement of a congressional resolution to recognize the contributions of Antonio Meucci, to name a few. OSIA has a strong commitment to fostering good relations and active communication with our government officials. Through petition and letter-writing campaigns; press releases and articles in “Italian America”, the official publication of OSIA; participation in press conferences and testimonials to Congress; and meetings with key leaders to support particular legislation or initiatives, OSIA remains at the helm of public affairs for the Italian American community.•National and international disaster relief efforts
National and international disaster relief efforts Programs
•Educational programs, including scholarships, the promotion of Italian language
Educational programs, including scholarships, the promotion of Italian language•Large-scale fundraising events, Cultural research, and programs
Large-scale fundraising events, Cultural research, and programs•Grant programs
Grant programs•Support of medical research and other causes
Support of medical research and other causes Communications
•Working with the news media (U.S. mainstream, Italian and Italian American sources) Maintaining contact with other Italian American organizations, advocacy groups and the general public
Working with the news media (U.S. mainstream, Italian and Italian American sources) Maintaining contact with other Italian American organizations, advocacy groups and the general public •Publishing “Italian America”
Publishing “Italian America”•Producing "OSIA Nation" newsletter (for OSIA leaders)
Producing "OSIA Nation" newsletter (for OSIA leaders) Sons of Italy Foundation The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the oldest and largest organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. The SIF was founded in 1959 as a private, grant-making institution with the purpose of preserving Italian American culture, encouraging educational excellence among Italian Americans and improving lives in other areas.
Philanthropic Efforts & Grants
The main focuses of the SIF's charitable giving include:
•Educational programs and scholarships
Educational programs and scholarships •Cultural preservation and advancement
Cultural preservation and advancement •Medical research
Medical research •Disaster relief
Disaster relief •Special projects
Special projects The SIF also awards grants to organizations that preserve and advance Italian culture in the United States.
To date, the SIF has given more than $93 million.
Fund-raising The SIF's main fund-raising vehicle is its annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala in Washington, D.C. The gala raises money for the foundation's many worthy charitable causes and honors the foundation's scholarship winners and corporate and humanitarian award recipients.
The Commission for Social Justice The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) is the anti-defamation arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the biggest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian descent in the United States. The CSJ was founded in 1979 to fight the stereotyping of Italian Americans by the entertainment, advertising and news industries. It also collaborates with other groups to ensure that people of all races, religions and cultures are treated with dignity and respect.
•The CSJ monitors the entertainment, advertising and news industries, contacts offending parties by letter and/or telephone and alerts other Italian American organizations, e-mail networks and concerned individuals to the problem so that they too can take action.
The CSJ monitors the entertainment, advertising and news industries, contacts offending parties by letter and/or telephone and alerts other Italian American organizations, e-mail networks and concerned individuals to the problem so that they too can take action. •Through its Positive Image Program, the CSJ regularly informs the media and general public about Italian American achievements, contributions, history and culture.
Through its Positive Image Program, the CSJ regularly informs the media and general public about Italian American achievements, contributions, history and culture. •As part of its Positive Image Program, the CSJ conducts research, produces studies, teaching tools, pamphlets, exhibits and other materials on the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans. Sample inventory of CSJ Positive Image materials: The Medal of Honor exhibit: Italian American war heroes The Una Storia Segreta exhibit (courtesy American Italian Historical Association) on the WWII internment of Italian Americans "Columbus: Fact vs. Fiction," a 12-page booklet on Columbus's role in history The Sons of Italy Italian Festival Directory of more than 300 festivals in 23 states How-to kit: "Start Italian in Your School" "OSIA Italian Language Enrollment Report" on the status of Italian studies in the United States, Book marks, posters, pamphlets and brochures on Italian Americans in many fields
As part of its Positive Image Program, the CSJ conducts research, produces studies, teaching tools, pamphlets, exhibits and other materials on the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans. Sample inventory of CSJ Positive Image materials: The Medal of Honor exhibit: Italian American war heroes The Una Storia Segreta exhibit (courtesy American Italian Historical Association) on the WWII internment of Italian Americans "Columbus: Fact vs. Fiction," a 12-page booklet on Columbus's role in history The Sons of Italy Italian Festival Directory of more than 300 festivals in 23 states How-to kit: "Start Italian in Your School" "OSIA Italian Language Enrollment Report" on the status of Italian studies in the United States, Book marks, posters, pamphlets and brochures on Italian Americans in many fields The CSJ conducts campaigns at both the community and the national level that support cultural and social issues of importance to Italian Americans. (Legislation, commemorative stamps, Columbus Day/Heritage Month, etc.) To achieve its objectives, the CSJ engages in community and government relations as well as in grassroots campaigns and fund-raising efforts. However, given its non-profit status, the CSJ cannot offer legal advice or assistance in lawsuits.
