Philanthropic Efforts

Current Campaigns

The Sons of Italy Foundation® is currently accepting donations for the organizations and causes noted here:

Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest national voluntary health organization committed to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and helping those affected directly and indirectly by the disease, which is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

The SIF has contributed more than $1 million to the Alzheimer’s Association to date, and has pledged to contributed an additional $1 million. The Alzheimer’s Association is a designated SIF National Charity.

Cooley’s Anemia Foundation

The Cooley’s Anemia Foundation (CAF) serves people affected by the fatal genetic blood disease thalassemia, or Cooley’s anemia, often found in people of Mediterranean descent. Its mission is to advance treatment, enhance the quality of life of patients and educate the medical community, trait carriers and the public about the disease.

The SIF has contributed $2 million to the CAF to date. The Cooley’s Anemia Foundation is a designated SIF National Charity.

Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

The mission of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism is to support families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Foundation is committed to increasing awareness of the challenges of living with autism and helping families find resources to help address those challenges. The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation provides individuals with autism and their families an opportunity to improve their quality of life by funding educational, therapeutic, recreational and advocacy programs. The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism is a designated SIF National Charity.

Wounded troops’ & veterans’ causes

The Sons of Italy Foundation^® (SIF) is taking an increasing role in helping returning wounded servicemen and women and veterans adjust to a new way of life. The SIF’s range of support includes scholarships for wounded warriors, partial funding of events/programs by veterans/military support organizations (such as the Gary Sinise Foundation and an organization that assists troops with airfare costs to return home for the holidays), and hosting veterans and active military at the annual NELA Gala.

Contributions to this fund help the SIF honor these brave men and women who sacrifice for their country.

Garibaldi-Meucci Museum

This national landmark, owned and operated by the Sons of Italy Foundation^®, is the former home of Italian inventor Antonio Meucci. He and his friend, famous Italian revolutionary leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, spent time in this home in Staten Island, N.Y. It is the actual place where telephone history was made, where a great friendship thrived and where the vision of Italian unification was formed.

The museum’s operation and variety of programs rely on charitable donations in addition to its modest admission fees.

SIF Scholarship Fund

Each year, the Sons of Italy Foundation^® (SIF) holds its merit-based college scholarship competition, the National Leadership Grant Competition, to award scholarships to the nation’s brightest Italian American students.

Some of these scholarships are provided through perpetual funds while others require supplemental funding from, or are completely funded by, the SIF’s general scholarship fund.

One-time and recurring donations are welcome to grow the scholarship fund and enable the SIF to continue this important goal of supporting educational excellence.

Endowed perpetual scholarships or completely funded one-time scholarships are also welcome; please contact the National Office if you wish to make a scholarship gift of this type.

General charity fund

Contributions to the SIF’s general charity fund enable the Sons of Italy Foundation^® to apply funds when and where it is needed most.

Sponsored Grants

The Sons of Italy Foundation^® reviews Grant Applications for foundations, institutions or individuals whose mission is in line with ours:  for the purpose of preserving Italian American culture, encouraging educational excellence among Italian Americans and improving lives in other areas. Each submission will be reviewed individually and it will be determined if SIF has the appropriate funds to support the project.

Sons of Italy Foundation® Philanthropic Efforts & Grant Beneficiaries

This list represents the range of organizations and causes the SIF and OSDIA have supported through the years or are currently supporting.