History
The Order of Sons of Italy in Americal was established in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City  on June 22, 1905, by Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D., and five other fellow immigrants from Italy who came to the United States during the great Italian migration of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During its history, OSIA has been involved in promoting immigration legislation; assisting in the assimilation process; supporting cooperation, trade, and diplomatic relations between the United States and Italy; initiating social and fraternal events; encouraging educational achievement through scholarships; serving local communities through a variety of cultural events and raising funds for local charities; and providing low-cost group financial investments and insurance programs for the benefit of members nationwide. Today, OSIA is the oldest, largest, and most demographically diverse association of American men and women of Italian descent. Since the organization's beginning, men and women have shared equal status within the organization, as do individuals of all ages and professions.
More information about the history of the OSIA can be found here.
Services
When one thinks of the Sons of Italy, they tend to think that the organization mainly benefits those of Italian heritage. While this may be true for a few of the organization’s services, the Sons of Italy also does a lot when it comes to helping the entire community.
Programs that the Sons of Italy provides for Italian-Americans.
A. Commission for Social Justice
- Italian discrimination during World War II was existent, the CSJ has fought for apologies from Congress for these acts, as well as showing the contributions that Italian-Americans made during WWII.
- CSJ is fighting the Sopranos because of the negative image of Italian-Americans it portrays.
- Fighting to establish an FCC department reporting on bias in the media
B. Preserving Italian-American Heritage
- The SOI is educating people about Italian-American Women’s History.
- The CSJ has started an Italian-American History bookmark program.
- In the state of New York, a bill was passed that makes October National Italian-American Heritage Month.
- The Council for the Promotion of the Italian Language in American Schools (COPILAS) program is preserving heritage by keeping the Italian language alive.
C. Providing Scholarships for Italian-American Students
- Students apply into a merit-based competition called the National Leadership Grant Competition.
- The organization has given out around $28 million in scholarships since 1968.
As well as providing these services for Italian-American’s, the Sons of Italy also provides numerous programs for those who are not of Italian decent.
Programs that the Sons of Italy provides for all Americans.
A. Alzheimer’s Association
- The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest national health organization researching the disease.
- This organization also helps those who are affected with the disease.
- The SOF has provided about $82 million in research grants to the group.
- As well, the association provides education about Alzheimer’s.
B. Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
- Uses funding to help develop treatments for Cooley’s Anemia.
- Works to enhance quality of life for patients.
- Also educates the public about the illness.
As well as these two major recipients of the Sons of Italy’s charitable work, there are many more organizations that benefit from their efforts.
C. Other programs that the Sons of Italy helps are those that many people have heard of before.
- March of Dimes
- Special Olympics
- Disaster Relief for floods, hurricanes, etc.
- National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial in Washington D.C.
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