Order Sons of Italy

The Order Sons of Italy in America History

We are a national organization of men and women who represent the estimated 26 million Americans of Italian heritage, dedicated to promoting our culture, our traditions, our language, the legacy of our ancestors, and our contributions to the U.S. and the world. We are sons and daughters, grandmothers and grandfathers. We are corporate executives and we are union members...young students and retirees...teachers and attorneys...doctors and firefighters...bakers and Wall Street brokers...and everything in between. We are philanthropists and we are model global citizens with purpose beyond ourselves. And we are proud and patriotic Americans of Italian heritage. We exemplify the very best of what it is to be Italian American.

Leading the way for all other Italian-American organizations, the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) was founded in Ne

w York City on June 22,1905, by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro and five other Italian immigrants. It is the largest and most demographically diverse membership organization representing Italian-American men and women throughout the Unitd States.
Since OSIA’s beginning, men and women have shared equal status within OSIA, as do individuals of all professions and ages.
OSIA, through its 750 lodges, and its two subsidiary entities, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) and the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), work to preserve and promote the culture heritage of Americanof Italian descent.
Through OSIA’s philanthropic and social undertaking, we represent the interests of Italian-American young and old, as well as professionals in all fields of endeavor. In cooperation with the United States and Italian government, OSIA seeks to strengthen trade, business, political, and educational opportunities.
OSIA has contributed to strengthening and preserving the Italian-American culture and heritage for 105 years.
Now, you too can be a part of OSIA by becoming a member of OSIA. Wehope you wll join us as we work for a better tomorrow- just as our ancestors came to this counrty looking for a better life for us.

OSIA is for people of any gender, age, religion and profession. You don't even have to be Italian to join! Whether you are of Italian heritage or simply have a love for things Italian, OSIA welcomes you as a member.

The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is a private, philanthropic institution established by OSIA in 1959. To date, the SIF has given more than $108 million to scholarships, medical research, cultural preservation, disaster relief, and other causes.

The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) is the anti-defamation arm of OSIA. The CSJ is committed to fighting racism, prejudice, and the stereotyping of all races, religions and cultures, especially Italians and Italian Americans.

The SIF owns the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Staten Island, N.Y. The museum is housed in the historic home of inventor Antonio Meucci and chronicles his life as well as that of his one-time house guest, Italian unifier Giuseppe Garibaldi.

OSIA's national headquarters is in Washington, D.C., near Capitol Hill.

Italian-Americans Celebrating Our

Heritage and Building a Better Tomorrow

105 Years of OSIA’s Record of Achievement:

For decades, OSIA, the SIF, and the CSJ have provided wide variety of programs benefit of all Americans. To list just a few:
Donating millions dollars to charities and philanthropies such as the March of Dimes, american Red Cross, Cooley ‘s Anemia Foundation. The Children’s Inn at NIH. The Arthritis Foundation, The Alzheimer’s Association. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and the Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island Foundation.
Providing more than $25 million in accademic schoolarships since 1968.
Representing 25 million Italian-American citizens with the federal government and state capitals nationwide.
Leading a national campaign to combat discrimination, bigotry and prejudice against Italian-americas.
Donating millions of dollars for victims of natural disasters, including $3million for earthquake victims in Italy and Mexico, Ethiopian famine relief, aid to those effected by the hurricanes and floods in the Midwest and Florida.
Working cooperatively with the Italian government on a wide range of social, educational, humanitarian, cultural activities.
Recognizing leadership potential and achievements in young Italian-American scholar and the annual National Educational Leadership Awards Gala, held in Washington, D.C.
Supporting international projects to bring Italian language instruction to America via television.

Sons of Italy National Web site

Immigrants Stories

I, am one of many other immigrants who experienced coming to this country. My name is Joseph La Banca, a 41 year member of the Hacienda Lodge, Order Sons of Italy in America, (OSIA). I was born in Italy and came to America in 1960. After two years of being here, I begin to adjust to the America way of life. I utilized the experiences I gained in Italy to run my two businesses in America. One day a client of mine introduced me to an organization that was about to become the center piece of my life. The business soon became profitable enough to donate money and time to this very worthy charitable organization. Soon after I joined the Order, I became an officer of the lodge, including four years as president and 17 years as State Officer, including two years as State President of the Grand Lodge of California. This position required a huge responsibility. But, from the day I was elected to the end, I utilized all my past experiences. My point is that any one who wants to make differences here in America there is a way. The Order Sons of Italy in America