About Us
The Past
Babies born aboard ships arriving from Italy on their
way to the United States during the 1920's, were
greeted at the piers with a bassinet and enough
clothes for a year. These items were distributed
to the infants from the only desk at the New York
piers set up to assist incoming immigrants. It
was run by the Italian Welfare League, a splinter
group of 120 women, that marched as the Italian
American Auxiliary of the American Red Cross in
the Victory Parade after World War I.
Under the leadership of Carolina
Perera, the non-partisan, non-sectarian service organization
processed 384,000 immigrants from its inception in
1920, through the first decade of existence. Acting
as advisors, interpreters, job finders and nurses,
its members provided assistance ranging from housing
and employment to clinical care, juvenile protection
and home relief. In 1938 alone, the Italian Welfare
League distributed 16,565 quarts of milk, 2,000 food
tickets, 300 Christmas baskets and 654 articles of
clothing to needed Italian families in their new homeland.
The Present
A primary goal of the Italian Welfare League is to
address the changing needs of the Italian-American
population. Today, 89 years after its establishment,
the Italian Welfare League’s focus has moved
from serving immigrants on the piers of America’s
gateway to meeting the ongoing needs of Italian Americans
in modern times. The energies of the League’s
membership have been devoted to fund-raising and
financial assistance to related worthy causes.
Recent Undertakings in the new
Millennium
At the turn of a new and very different century, the
League continues to focus on assisting children with
health problems and those who find themselves in
crisis.
We’ve helped children with Syndrome West, cerebral
palsy, autism, cancer as well as those who’ve lost
family members under tragic circumstances. During holidays
such as Easter and Christmas, we continue to give support
to the same children and their families.
Since the year 2001, the League has raised and donated
over $313,000 among 168 children "in its "Nostri
Bambini" campaign.
All of this is made possible through the generous donations
of members and friends.
Never doubt that a small, group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
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