Christopher Columbus Fund

Dear Defenders of Italian Heritage and Culture,

I'm reaching out to you today to support The Italian-American Cultural Association of Virginia’s (IACA) on-going efforts dedicated to celebrating and preserving our rich Italian heritage and culture through the establishment of The Christopher Columbus Fund.

In June of 2020, the Columbus Monument, which stood as a fixture in the Richmond, VA community for 93 years, was illegally toppled and vandalized by protesters during the riots that year. IACA petitioned the City of Richmond to obtain ownership of the statue, acquiring the statue in February, 2023. Monies were raised through generous donations from our members, individuals and organizations to repair and restore the statue through The Columbus Statue Restoration Fund. Efforts to keep the restored statue in Richmond and Virginia were undermined by fear of violence to the statue and its guardians.

In September, 2024, IACA located a permanent site for the Columbus Statue, where it is prominently displayed on the grounds of The Rockland Order of the Sons of Italy Lodge in Blauvelt, NY where it is appreciated as a work of art and continues the legacy of Columbus for current and future generations.

Today, IACA keeps the legacy of Columbus alive in Richmond!

The Christopher Columbus Fund, provides grants and donations to individuals and organizations to improve the lives of refugees, immigrants and those in need through humanitarian assistance. Your donation helps support IACA’s efforts at re-establishing and celebrating the legacy of Christopher Columbus in Richmond, improving the lives of today’s immigrants and refugees, who have legally entered into our society allowing them to obtain the same dreams and goals that all of us as immigrants or descendants of immigrants searched for in the journey to America.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference for the underprivileged while sustaining our rich Italian cultural legacy.

Let’s come together to support the Italian-American Cultural Association of Virginia and keep our traditions alive. Thank you for your generosity!

John Corritone

Committee Chair

The Christopher Columbus Fund