Our Story

The Casa Italia Foundation was established in 1989 Registered in the State of Ohio on May 24th, 1990 under Section 501 (C) (3) as a non-profit organization.

The mission is to promote Italian-American culture through various activities such as Italian language classes for adults and children, Italian summer camp for children, the Miss Italia of Ohio Pageant, a Christmas party and picnic for members and their families, and various trips to shrines and other points of interest. Dinner dances, and other cultural celebrations and events.

Our books and important papers are kept at our office at 5200 west 130th Street, Brook Park, Ohio 44142. This had been our home for meetings and activities from 1989 until May 22nd 2016, when we moved to our new center of Italian American Culture 6444 Pearl Rd. Unit 6F in Parma Hts. Ohio where we continued our meetings and activities until the summer of 2020.

Then covid hit and we closed for 2 years. Both the Brook Park location and the Parma Hts. facility have been donated free of rent by long time members and trustees Tony and Carmelina Di Fiore. In the fall of 2020, the Parma Hts. building got sold, and Casa Italia foundation Board of trustees made arrangements for Casa Italia Foundation to meet at the Home Family Club 6450 Pearl Rd in Parma Hts. Ohio where we hope to continue our activities. Our member meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7 pm. 

The office and files remain in Brook Park Ohio, 5200 west 130th street. 

In the past Casa Italia Foundation has conducted many great events, such as the first and second festival of La Canzone Italiana (Italian song Festival). In these song festivals we had the participation of most local bands, and also from groups as far as California and Canada, where these groups presented new songs. Casa Italia Foundation also hosted an Italian radio program (Sounds of Italy) every Saturday from 10am - to 2pm four hour program for several years. Casa Italia also edited a publication (Il Flash Italiano) that was mailed out monthly to subscribers updating the Italian community on special events, and featuring our members. Casa Italia Foundation has made a difference in our area, and continues to promote Italian and American Culture, language, and traditions with the hope to pass it on to future generations.

Congratulations Casa Italia Foundation and to all who helped us accomplish all these great events thru the past 33 years.Thank you for being part of our history.

THE BOARD

  • MARGARET MONTEMARANO

    CO-PRESIDENT

  • CARMELA RUSSO

    CO-PRESIDENT

  • CARMELINA DI FIORE

    CO-PRESIDENT AND TREASURER

  • GENNARO RUSSO

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • NINA HURST

    RECORDING SECRETARIES

  • OLIVIA RASO

    RECORDING SECRETARIES

  • OLIVIA CARRIERO

    RECORDING SECRETARIES

  • GABRIELLA GRILLO

    RECORDING SECRETARIES

Current Board of Trustees:

  • CARMELINA DI FIORE

  • TONINO DI FIORE                               

  • TONINO IANIRO

  • SARA IANIRO

  • OLGA MARINO

  • MARGARET MONTEMARANO

  • CARMELA RUSSO                                                         

  • GENNARO RUSSO