Foundation Focus

The Foundation Focus

By Joseph Sciame, President

Brothers and Sisters of our Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) and friends—I bring you greetings from the Board of Trustees of our Sons of Italy Foundation. I use that word “our” as I am a firm believer in that, as OSDIA members, we are also members of the Foundation. In this spirit, we are the people who help support so many good works that we boast about. In recently celebrating two ethnic holidays and holy days—St. Patrick and St. Joseph—I have been thanking our God for being blessed to live in a country that provides us with the ability to help others.

We have this opportunity, once again, with our upcoming 33rd Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala on Wednesday, May 25, 2022—which takes place in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. We are excited to have a sell-out audience at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, just blocks from the Washington Monument.

Can you imagine our forebears—who helped found and support the foundation of OSDIA—seeing such fruits of their labors being displayed in a black-tie event? They came with little and gave us so much in addition to pride and heritage. They gave us culture. They gave us language. They gave us the ability to work hard—as they did—so that we could give to others today.

This year at NELA, we are giving another van to the Help Our Military Heroes (HOMH), awarding more than $100,000 in scholarships to worthy students, and celebrating the achievements of some stellar Italian-American honorees: The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Angelo Vivolo, and Laurie Serricchio Hollander. We look forward to a memorable evening!

What amazes me is the sense of generosity and commitment that so many of our members—dear sisters and brothers—who, with their own obligations, come forward every year and support us. The next appeal will be related to supporting Ukraine, much as we have responded to so many such crises in the past 117 years.

We know that our sisters and brothers in Italy are welcoming many from Ukraine, and I have heard from the president of A Chance for Life (formerly the Boys and Girls Towns of Italy) with campuses in Rome and Civitavecchia, where they plan to welcome young Ukrainian boys and girls with their respective mothers who are without a home.

We can be a part of that cause! I urge you to respond with the same level of generosity that you have always shown. We are a good people—a great people—and there is no greater lesson learned from our Italian-American experience than to give back in order to improve the human condition.

Feel Italian-American pride and let us continue all our good work that we do as a TEAM. For there is no “I” in that word, but rather a synergy that makes us special as an Italian-American national organization and foundation.

Bellissime Italian Notecards!

The Grand Lodge of the Northwest is selling beautifully designed Italian Notecards. Each card is hand-drawn by one of our own members, artist Kathi Butorac. There are two options to choose from. All proceeds go to the National Charities of The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. We would love your support!

To order a set of Italian Notecards, visit https://grandlodge-of-the-northwest.square.site/