| Lodge #2825 "What interested me most about starting an all-women’s Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy (OSIA) was the fact that OSIA is a well-respected organization that started as a dream of Italian-American immigrants one hundred years ago and has progressed into a venerated group of men and women who hold the ideals of their heritage to the highest level. Each of the lodges throughout the U.S. is its own entity with the main purpose being to promote the Italian heritage, culture and language." - Vincenza DiLiberti, President Lodge #2825 The Daughters of Italy Lodge #2825 was established in May 2005, and received its official charter during a presentation ceremony on June 26, 2005, coincidentally on the 100th anniversary of the Order Sons of Italy in America. We are a diversified group of women - businesswomen, homemakers, mothers, single women - several of who are fluent in both Italian and English. There are many Italian regions from where our members or their families come from. Nevertheless, our goal is a unified one - a determination to promote Italian culture, the language, and preserve the many wonderful traditions that are represented throughout the regions of Italy. The Florida State Senate passed Senate Resolution 3070 on May 1, 2007, recognizing the Daughters of Italy Lodge #2825, the Clearwater chapter of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization of men and women of Italian heritage. The lodge was congratulated for becoming the first all- women's lodge of the Grand Lodge of Florida (OSIA) as well as for promoting Italian culture and language and preserving the many wonderful traditions of the various regions of Italy. The resolution acknowledges the lodge’s charitable endeavors, including Cooley’s anemia, Alzheimer’s, and Cancer, as well as recognizing the lodge’s desire to help deserving students further their educational aspirations through scholarships. The Daughters of Italy Lodge #2825 was also applauded for its continuing struggle against prejudice, bigotry, and defamation of Italians, Italian-Americans, and other groups or persons. Charities As a filial lodge of OSIA, the Daughters of Italy are proud to volunteer our time for the meaningful charities endorsed by OSIA as well as the philanthropic endeavors, which are dear to our individual lodge: Cooley's Anemia Foundation Alzheimer's Association Breast Cancer Research Daughters of Italy Lodge #2825 Scholarship Committee for Social Justice With over 25 million Italians and Italian-Americans living in the U.S., the lodges of the Order of Sons of Italy in America are vigilant in fighting prejudice, bigotry, and defamation of Italians, Italian-Americans, as well as other groups of individuals. Through CSJ, whose slogan is "Fighting Bias - Building Pride," a more positive image of Italians and Italian-Americans has been effectively implemented. |