Little Italy San Jose Foundation

Little Italy San Jose is a 501c3 organization that is revitilizing San Jose's original Italian settlement dating back to the 1880's.  We have successfully raised funds and In Kind contributions to install a 31 foot Arch to anchor our developing Italian cultural district http://www.littleitalysj.com/archway.html This signature Arch for the Little Italy project will start construction in the next few weeks.  We have also installed over 300 bricks http://www.littleitalysj.com/bricks.html from the Italian community in our piazza and have 30 banners of  prominent Italian Americans hanging in the Guadalupe River Park http://www.littleitalysj.com/banners.html.

In addition Little Italy San Jose has recuited 5 authentic Italian Businesses to locate in this Italian District including Paesano Ristorante, Enoteca La Storia, AG Ferrari foods, Bel Bacio Italian Cafe, and an Italian School.

What's Next?  We have purchased through donations and are restoring through In Kind doantions, the 1910 Queen Anne Victorian Home in Little Italy San Jose and developing an Italian museum honoring the many contributions Italian Americans have given to Santa Clara County.

This home was built by Lencio Beltramo and his family is still in the San Jose Area.  This home is listed as a  candidate city landmark in the City of San Jose and we plan on renovating this home to it's original glory and utilizing the building as a museum, and for Italian social and cultural events for the community.

Our Nonprofit owns the facility and raised 330k from several very generous donations from the Sobrato, DiNapoli, Mulcahy, Marchese, & Trapani families.  And another $30,000 from numerous small donations through Razoo and other donation sources.

In addition the "Extreme Makeover" of this delabitated Historic Home will take place through the numerous In Kind donations of such recognizable names as Devcon Construction, Best Electrical, Blach Construction, Alliance Roofing, Western Roofing Supply, Therma Corp, America Italiana Windows, A1 Cooling, SV HOME, Biggs & Cardosa, ProBuild, and Peninsula Building Materials.

This has been a remarkable community effort and we now need support to showcase and display the many milestones of Italian American culture in San Jose that the community is donating from AP Giannini to Eggo Waffles, to the Cannery life and many Italian American businesses that have helped shape Santa Clara County.  We also plan on replicating a symbol of Florence, such as the "Ponte Vecchio" Bridge to elaborate on the Sister City relationship with Florence, Italy.