I continually laud OSIA, or NIAF, & UNICO for their "awakening", and increasingly greater "pro active" stance toward "cultural enlightenment" and "negative stereotyping".

So my intent is NOT to "attack" OSIA, or NIAF, & UNICO for their contributions to NON Italian Charities or Projects, on a local and national basis, BUT merely to suggest a REEXAMINATION of such a Policy, since so many recommendations
for furtherance of the Italian American community, must be "shelved" for lack of "Funding"!!!!

Some decades ago, Italian American organizations felt the need to appear to be good American Citizens by "buying" acceptance, by contributing to LOCAL charities.
That is "old school", outdated, and discredited thinking.

Even then, NATIONAL contributions seemed to have TOO obscure a PR benefit.

In this age, with a more fragmented Italian American community, with even less resources, with even more battles to be fought, it seems a great waste to "divert" ANY monies to OTHER Non Italian areas, no matter how worthy.

I well may be one of those that benefit from Alzheimer Research, but I would like to see an Italian American Organization focus solely on Italian American needs.

Each of the Members of an Italian American Organization can decide on their own which Charities they wish to donate to, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Strokes, Heart, Lung, Orphans, etc, etc. Members don't need Board Members "diverting" their Italian American Resources.

If you agree, make your thoughts known to your leadership.
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Sons of Italy News Bureau :: Press Release
...........................................................

Sons of Italy Contributes $100,000 to Alzheimer Research
Grant Raises OSIA Contribution Total to over $1 Million

Washington - April 12, 2004 -
The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) has given a $100,000 grant to the Alzheimer's Association (AA) through its philanthropic arm, the Sons of Italy
Foundation (SIF).

Since 1993, OSIA and SIF have contributed more than $1 million to the Alzheimer's Association for research to cure and prevent this devastating disease.

The OSIA/SIF check presentation ceremony was March 22 in Washington, D.C. Paul S. Polo, Sons of Italy Foundation president; Joseph Sciame, OSIA national
president; and Robert Messa, OSIA national immediate past president, presented the check to Richard Kipper, AA chairman.

"For over 10 years SIF has supported the Alzheimer's Association and its mission to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease. We are proud to be part of this effort," says Polo.

The Sons of Italy has sponsored several AA research projects by senior scientists in the United States and Italy who are researching the risk genes for dementia, and investigating basic disease mechanisms at work in the Alzheimer brain.

OSIA is the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. Through its SIF, it supports education, medical
research, cultural preservation, disaster relief and other special projects. Since its inception in 1959, the SIF has donated more than $85 million to these causes. To
learn more about the SIF, see <ahref= "http://www.osia.org"> www.osia.org
or contact us at sif@osia.org .