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Support The Italian Center, Make A Crostata, and Community Unity

CARI AMICI

Dear Members and Friends of the Italian Cultural Society.

We want to thank you for your kind messages of support to us for keeping the Society alive during this time and telling us how special our programs are to you and the community.

During the past year, our many wonderful cultural heritage programs have been affected by the restrictions on the use of the Italian Cultural Center. Some programs had to be cancelled while others have been maintained.

REOPENING THE ITALIAN CENTER

We have managed to keep our language school program alive by transitioning to online classes for now. We definitely want to open our center for in person classes as soon as we can.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Italian Center and resuming all our programs including our film and lecture series, our food demonstrations and our children’s programs and festivals, all of which are open to members and the public.

WITH YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT

The interruption in our programs has affected our finances. We rely on our programs and special events to sustain the Italian Center and the Society in addition to the support of our members and donors. Your continuing support has enabled us to maintain our monthly newsletters, our online cooking demonstrations, our exhibits and our lovely Italian Center and we are thankful to you for that support.

WE CAN TELL OUR STORY

The educational and cultural programs of the Society help keep the Italian spirit alive. Our exhibits and community programs at the Italian Center help us record and preserve the contributions of our Italian community and our culture. They help us to tell our story.

The Italian Center plays an essential role in providing programs that reflect our heritage and traditions. The Italian Center was a dream realized for the Italian community and has served us well as home for our many amazing and unique cultural programs.

WE NEED YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT

We need your ongoing support to reopen the Italian Center and rebuild our programs. Please Make a Donation Today.

As a non profit organization we are self supporting and rely on donations and memberships to enable us to serve the cultural needs of our community. Your tax deductible donation will help save our Italian Heritage and the Italian Center. We need additional support from you. No gift is to small or too large.

You can easily make a donation via our website at italiancenter.net with your credit card or Paypal, or you can mail a check to us at the Italian Cultural Society, PO Box 189427, Sacramento, CA 95818.

Do Something Italian Today!

Make A Donation

Support The Italian Center:
JOIN OUR RENAISSANCE CIRCLES

Make a gift to a Renaissance Circle today by clicking a circle above or click HERE

Il Sogno Realizzato; The Dream Realized

The Italian Cultural Society had a dream of connecting our community with our Italian heritage and culture by building a center that would offer this opportunity to learn, gather and unify. After several years, the dream was realized with the completion of the Italian Center in Carmichael. The Italian Cultural Society celebrated its Grand Opening of the new Italian Center in Sacramento on Sunday, May 20 , 2007 to the delight of hundreds or persons in attendance.

Click To Read The Full Story

IS THE SOCIETY IN YOUR ESTATE PLAN?

We acknowledge and thank the following for their donations to the Legacy Endowment Fund:

Patricia and William Cerruti

CREATE A LEGACY: GIVE A HERITAGE GIFT TO THE ITALIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

Please remember us when you are writing or updating your will. You can help provide future financial support to the Italian Cultural Society and your Italian heritage by making a remembrance gift in your will or estate. Your gift will help us maintain the Italian Cultural Center as a showcase for our culture and home to our programs, events and classes. Including the Italian Cultural Society in your Estate Plan is a simple , meaningful way to have a lasting impact on your Italian Heritage beyond your lifetime

If you would like to make such a gift or let us know if you already have, please contact the Society at 916-482-5900 or email at Italy1@surewest.net. You can also visit our website at italiancenter.net for further directions on how to make a legacy gift or to download a Statement of Future Gift Form.

The Society is a non-profit organization and your gifts are tax-deductible. Your gift will help us continue to champion our Italian cultural heritage.

Remember – Your Gift Will Make A Difference

Grazie Mille For Your Recent Donations

Michelangelo Circle

Patrizia Cinquini Cerruti; In Memory Of Kim Traversi

Donatello Circle

Michael Di Miceli, Randall & Paula Rapetti, Yvonne Novelli

Raffaello Circle

Rita Tonitto

Trish Fontana; In Memory Of her loving parents Antonietta & Robert Fontana

Robert Mukai; In Honor Of the Italian Families & community of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Dolores Calderon; In Memory Of Michele Policicchio

Janet Matthews; In Memory Of Philadelfo & Concetta Incontro

Andrew Plescia; In Honor Of Plescia, La Brasca, & DiMaggio Family

Raymond Ricciardi

Judith Del Tredic; In Memory Of Kim Traversi

Ted Balestreri

Nicki Sauer; In Memory Of Kim Rathjen Treversi

Botticelli Circle

Richard Rose; In Memory Of John A. Ferrero

Norma Baldocchi Patterson; In Memory Of Dad Ed Baldocchi

Francine Nardinelli

David Rossi; In Honor Of Christmas and La Bella Vita

Larry Lavagnino

Giotto Circle

Joseph Passarelli; In Memory Of my father Francis Passarelli

Noreen Patrigiani; In Memory Of Marino & Jean Patrigiani

Rose Biundo

Tammy Perez; In Memory Of Marceal Calava

Patrick Frega

Sandra Quinn; In Memory Of the Vecchiarelli family

Nancy Salerno Lower; In Memory Of Al & Vee Salerno

You're Invited To Become A Member!

Membership in the Italian Cultural Society is open to all.

If you are not a current member, take this opportunity to receive an official Italian Cultural Society Membership Card. (If you’re a current member you'll receive your annual membership renewal notice in the mail, or you can renew now to receive the gifts offered.) ICS Membership entitles you to receive the acclaimed newsletter “ALTRE VOCI – OTHER VOICES,” widely recognized for keeping our community informed.

Your membership also supports our efforts to preserve and promote our rich heritage through the many cultural programs we offer to the community.

Each year we offer the special membership gifts for each level of Membership. This year, we're offering the following gifts:

•  “Finding The Mother Lode“ (DVD)  Italians first came to California in large numbers with the Gold Rush. “Finding The Mother Lode“ documents the experience of Italian immigrants in California
•  Italian American Flag with Grommets  Proudly display this 3’ x 5’ Italian American Flag at social and family events
•  "Men Of The Cloth" (DVD)   - A documentary film about three Italian American Master tailors and their vanishing craft.

Join Today!

Join Now and Receive These Special Membership Gifts:

Paisani Membership

JOIN to receive our award-winning Altre Voci Newsletter, (click image to read current issue) Special Invitations & Notices and an ICS Membership Card.

CLICK HERE FOR A PAESANI SENIOR / STUDENT MEMBERSHIP ($40)

CLICK HERE FOR A PAESANI INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ($45)

CLICK HERE FOR A PAESANI FAMILY MEMBERSHIP ($50)

Amici Membership

JOIN to receive our award-winning Altre Voci Newsletter, Special Invitations & Notices and an ICS Membership Card...PLUS the following gift:

"Finding The Mother Lode" (DVD)
Film documents the experience of Italian immigrants in California.

CLICK HERE FOR AN AMICI MEMBERSHIP ($65)

Contributore Membership

JOIN to receive our award-winning Altre Voci Newsletter, Special Invitations & Notices and an ICS Membership Card...PLUS both of the following gifts:

"Finding The Mother Lode" (DVD)
Film documents the experience of Italian immigrants in California
and an
Italian-American Flag with Grommets to proudly display this 3 x 5 Italian American Flag at social and family events

CLICK HERE FOR A CONTRIBUTORE MEMBERSHIP ($125)

Benfattore Membership

JOIN to receive our award-winning Altre Voci Newsletter, Special Invitations & Notices and an ICS Membership Card...PLUS all three of the following gifts:

"Finding The Mother Lode" (DVD)
Film documents the experience of Italian immigrants in California. an
Italian-American Flag with Grommets to proudly display this 3 x 5 Italian American Flag at social and family events, and
"Men of the Cloth" (DVD) documentary about master Italian-American tailors and their vanishing craft.

CLICK HERE FOR A BENEFATTORE MEMBERSHIP ($250)

You Can Also Become A Member By Mail!
Simply click the form below to print your Membership Invitation. Fill out the form and mail with your check!
Your ICS Membership Card and other gifts will be on their way!

Crostata di Marmellata

Another fabulous video recipe from ICS Member Diana as she demonstrates baking a scrumptious Italian marmalade tart!

Report From Italian America

The Italian American Unity Movement!!!

Saving Columbus Day and Columbus Statues
Italian Americans watched in disbelief in 2020 as Statues of Columbus were being destroyed by protestors and removed by Cities across the nation, despite the opposition of the Italian American communities in which they stood. Many of these statues had been donated to these cities by earlier generations of Italian immigrants. To Italian Americans, these statues are an integral part of their heritage.

At the same time, cities and States across the nation were also replacing the Columbus Day holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day, against the will of the Italian American community. Civic leaders did not listen to the concerns of Italian Americans as they rallied to save these symbols of their heritage.

A National Coalition of Italian Americans Is Formed
In response to the nationwide outcry by Italian Americans to stop this anti Italian bias and discrimination against us, Italian American leaders have formed a national Coalition of Italian American organizations and individuals.

Under the leadership of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, a national summit of over 350 Italian organizations from across the country was held in February 2021 to establish a national Unity movement. The goal is to unite Italian Americans. A series of national committees were established to address Italian American issues and formulate a plan to action.

Mission And Goals
One of the major issues facing the Italians is saving the Columbus Day Holiday as a federal, state local and school holiday. Another is saving the remaining statues and returning the ones that have been removed to their rightful place. Other issues include: support for Italian American Museums and Cultural institutions: promoting policy’s that protect our language and culture and ones that prevent discrimination against Italian Americans. Another major goal is telling our story and passing on our heritage to our younger Italian Americans. One of our committees is devoted to connecting with younger Italian Americans.

Goals such as an Italian American History Week and a national Italian American Museum are also in play. Already, a documentary film on Columbus with a more balanced telling of his story is available and publications are being developed to make our case about why he matters to us and to America.

According to the President of the Conference, Basil Russo. “We Italian Americans believe that each and every ethnic group deserves the opportunity to celebrate its heritage and historical achievements in a spirit of mutual respect.” Italian Americans are concerned they are being denied that opportunity by those who would cancel and replace Columbus Day as a holiday that they traditionally celebrate with that of another ethnic group which is being allowed (Indigenous Peoples day).

A Landmark Federal Lawsuit Is Filed In A Show Of National Unity
To this end, the Conference has already filed a Landmark lawsuit against the Mayor and City of Philadelphia for multiple instances of anti-Italian discrimination and bias. The Mayor unilaterally and unlawfully cancelled Columbus Day and replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day. In addition, the Mayor engaged in a series of actions against the Italian community by attempting to remove the Columbus statue and making false claims about Columbus, making prejudicial and derogatory statements and slurs against Italian immigrants and against Italians who attempted to protect the statue, removing the statue of the only Italian American Mayor of Philadelphia {Frank Rizzo}, and depriving the residents of the Italian American neighborhood of South Philly distribution of the COVID vaccine.

Another lawsuit has been filed by the Italian American One Voice Committee against West Orange, New Jersey to have the Columbus Monument there restored to its rightful place. A similar lawsuit is being considered against Chicago.

The National Website
The Conference has created a national website to build a national databank of all Italian Americans and a network to enable us to work together and communicate on a national basis. Any person or organization that would like to participate should visit the website at: italianamericaonline.com

The Future of Italian America
The Italian American community has been a fragmented community with hundreds of Italian American organizations across the nation in every city and town. One can hope and pray that this nationally organized movement will provide support to our many individual communities and organizations and enable us, as a people, to speak with a louder, clearer and unified voice.

It is time we 25 million Italian Americans were part of the national discussion about the future of America. We Italian American’s have held the Center of America for generations with our hard work, family values, and loyalty to the nation and our enormous contributions to all aspects of American society. We deserve to be heard and listened too about our aspirations, as do all Americans.

PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS BY CLICKING ON
THE SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL LINK BELOW. Grazie!

The success of our Italian American organizations like the Society depend on the support of the Italian community.

There are several tax-deductible ways you can help:

* Join Our Italian Center Fund RENAISSANCE CIRCLES
* Leave A Legacy Gift Through Our HERITAGE SOCIETY
* Make A DONATION Online or by Mail

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