About

What is the IYO?

The IYO is the Italian American Youth Organization. Founded on November 10, 2004, this association was created to celebrate, promote, and maintain Italian and Italian American culture among young people. Our mission is to be both a philanthropic association and social heritage club.

We have two main goals. The first is that we strive to ultimately give back to the community in the form of scholarships, financial support to charities, and community service. At the same time, our second goal is to retain our Italian and Italian-American cultures in all aspects, such as food, music, customs, traditions, and most importantly, our values.

What can you expect by joining the IYO?

Besides promoting and retaining Italian language and culture and being a charitable organization, the IYO is also a social club for young Italian Americans. Our general meetings are usually the first Monday of every month, but our calendar is full of so much more. Marching in parades and taking part in the local Italian festivals, bus trips (sometimes cultural) such as the San Gennaro Festival in NYC trip, or to Mohegan Sun Casino (sometimes not) are activities members can expect to participate in as part of our group. We also have our annual Anniversary Celebration in November, and our Annual Carnevale Celebration in April. The 2005 Carnevale attracted 256 people. October is National Italian American Heritage Month, and our organization is involved in the local Columbus Day Festivities and also the NIAF gala in Washington DC. We are open to all sorts of suggestions and activities and events. If you have something you would like the organization to do, please just let us know and help us coordinate it!

How can you join?

To join our organization is quite easy. Simply attend more than one of our monthly meetings, and pay the small annual dues and you will be inducted into the IYO. We ask that any young adult who is interested in his/her great Italian heritage to come down to a meeting of our organization. If we see that you come again the following month it is evident that you would like to become a member. Membership dues are due upon joining the organization. They are only $40 a year ($20 for high school age members) and only $20 if the member joins after the June meeting of any given year. To continue membership, full dues are again due in January of every year.�

NOTE: Although the IYO raises and donates money for local charities and individuals, money collected from dues is NEVER given away. Dues money always goes back to the members (food, transportation for trips, events, etc.). Only money raised from our events is added to the IYF (Italian American Youth Foundation), which is the charitable arm of the IYO.

If you think you would like to become a member please contact the IYO directly byemailing us and ask to have your email address added to our mailing list. This way you will be informed and reminded of all upcoming IYO meetings and events.