Sons of Italy Extends Marketing Grant Program
Press
Contact: Kylie Cafiero, (202) 547-2900 kcafiero@osia.org
WASHINGTON, September
9, 2004 The
Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the oldest
and largest national organization for men and women
of Italian heritage, has extended the deadline
for its new grant program consisting of five $1,000
grants for the best marketing plans to use in its
2005 centennial membership drive.
Approaching
its 100th anniversary in 2005, OSIA is aiming for
a 25% increase in membership across the nation.
The organization invites any individual or team
of marketing or business, undergraduate or graduate
students to submit a marketing membership plan.
Funding
of the grants comes from a personal donation by
Sons of Italy Foundation President Paul S. Polo.
"We
are ever so proud to put forth a competitive grant
program which will result in a marketing plan that
will affect the future of OSIA," says
National President Joseph Sciame. "As a centennial
organization, we know we are on the right road
to success with America's educated force assisting
us."
"Harnessing
the talents and creativity of the next generation
of business leaders will allow OSIA to meet our
membership increase mark while also educating students
about the Sons of Italy and its heritage," says National 2nd Vice President Valentino
Ciullo.
To apply,
interested parties should submit a two-page outline of the plan, keeping the
proposed marketing plan within a budget of $100,000 to $200,000 and send it electronically
to marketinggrants@osia.org. Projects must cover
all the areas of a basic marketing plan.
Applicants
are restricted to students currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's
degree program in marketing, integrated communications, or business. Individuals
and teams may submit a plan. Only one grant per plan, however, will be awarded.
Professors are encouraged to make this assignment a class project.
The application
deadline for the Polo Marketing Grant is December 15, 2004. Winners will be
notified by February 1, 2005. They must then submit a detailed 10-15 page marketing
plan by April 1. After receiving the full plan, OSIA will present the award.
Winners also will be profiled in Italian America, OSIA's official
magazine.
There is no
application fee. All research on OSIA is available on www.osia.org. Any questions
may be submitted through email to marketinggrants@osia.org.
OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 lodges/chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and culture of Italian Americans, the nation's fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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