Who We Are
We are an 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...police officers, 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."
History of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Sons and Daughters of Italy
The Order Sons of Italy in American was formed in 1905 by Dr. Vincent Sellaro and five compatriots in New York. In 1913, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was formed as part of that organization.
The motto for the Order Sons of Italy in America included Liberty, Equality and Fraternity "Libertà, Uguaglianza e Fratellanza", which was lifted from the French Revolution. - Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité- "Freedom, equality, brotherhood"
There were purposes of the Order Sons of Italy in America which included promoting national education, encouraging the dissemination of Italian culture, organizing programs for patriotic and humanitarian purposes and combating discrimination while protecting and upholding the positive image of Italian heritage in the United States.
In seeking more autonomy, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at its June 2013 convention in King of Prussia, PA, voted to become an independent organization from the Order Sons of Italy in America.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Corporate Charter was amended so that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Order Sons of Italy in America is now the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Sons and Daughters of Italy.