A large number of members and guests of Winthrop Mixed Lodge #2057 Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) came together at Winthrop Lodge of Elks to celebrate the organization’s 70th anniversary on May 26th.
Chartered by the Supreme National Lodge on June 5, 1956, as the Winthrop Men’s Lodge, #2057, the Lodge became a “Mixed” Lodge including women members in 1985.
National, State, and Lodge Past President Atty. Philip R. Boncore gave a detailed summary of Winthrop Mixed Lodge’s history of charitable endeavors dealing with national and international disasters, Alzheimers, Cooleys Anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Leukemia, the Don Orione Home, and many others. The Lodge also supports Italian art and culture and the state and national Committees for Social Justice, which deals with discrimination at many levels.
Boncore also indicated that just in the past 20 years, Mixed Lodge has expended nearly $200,000 in national and local Winthrop High School educational scholarships. In addition, the Lodge has forever supported Winthrop Little League, Winthrop Youth Hockey, and Skating Club to name a few.
Lodge celebrants also enjoyed a wonderful Italian dinner, an interesting raffle, and music provided by Lodge Past President Vincenzo Amara.
OSDIA officers from both the state Grand Lodge (Florence Ferullo Guidara) and national Supreme Lodge (Denise Furnari) of OSDIA also participated in Mixed Lodge’s 70th Anniversary celebration. They presented congratulatory citations to Lodge officials and members on the Lodge’s charitable and educational works and it’s efforts to preserve the Order’s motto of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”