• Become a Member

    Members must be of Italian descent or married to a spouse of Italian descent. Applicants to the club must have two members in good standing serve as sponsors. New members must be approved by the membership and pay a one-time fee of $300. Annual dues are $175.

     

    Member Application | Widow / Widower Application

    Our Members

    The Peninsula Italian American Social Club has over 700 members from the San Francisco Bay Area. Located in San Mateo, The Club was founded in 1934 and incorporated in California in 1941.

     

    The purpose of the club is to promote the Italian culture among Italian-Americans of the San Francisco Peninsula, and to ensure a lasting legacy for their descendants. Club activities bring members, their families, and friends together to enjoy good company, great Italian food, and timeless cultural traditions.

  • Pensogram

    The Club newsletter includes our President's Message, details on upcoming events, and more.

    Pensogram 2024: Jan | Feb | Mar

     

    Pensogram 2023: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May| June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec 

     

  • Community Involvement

    Peninsula Social Club Foundation college scholarships

    Peninsula Italian American Social Club Scholarship Foundation

    The Peninsula Social Club Foundation raises funds and annually awards scholarships totaling over $50,000 to deserving high school students who desire to further their education either through College or accredited Union Trade/Vocational Schools. Scholarship applications for 2023 are available here for College/University. Click here for Union Trade/ Vocational schools.

     

    Congratulations to the 2023 Scholarship Winners!

    Madeline Andrews, Stefan Bocanegra, Jacob Brewer, Ava Caruso, Audrey Cattano, Joseph Colombo, Ryan Consani, Corina Deranieri, Abigail Earnshaw, Lauren Fitzgerald, Santino Franco,

    Jordan Hauser, Dante Hauser, Hailey Hobson, Kaitlyn Koenig, Giada Leggero, Jack Martinelli, Michael Martinelli, Jaiden Petros, Isabella Pignati, Sophie Radique, Lauren Ryan, Zane Taylor,

    Nathan Thompson

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    Columbus Day Parade

    San Francisco

    The PIASC, in conjunction with other Italian-American community organizations, sponsors the Columbus Day Italian-American Heritage Celebration held in October of each year. The proceeds of this event in recent years have been donated to the San Mateo County Historical Association Museum and the Peninsula Symphony, among other worthy causes.

     

    The club also supports and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for other charitable organizations such as Mission Hospice.

  • Elected Officers

     

    Peninsula Italian American Social Club Board of Directors

    Elected Officers

    President
    Giovanni Colombo

     

    Vice President
    Tom Colombo

     

    Treasurer
    Stefano Quilici

     

    Secretary
    John Najac
     

    Board of Directors
    Tony Belforte
    Pat Dianda

    Angelo Fanucchi

    Maureen Freschet

    Jack Matthews

    Joy Morriss

    Pietro Quilici

    Dave Sarracino

    Richard Zaro

  • Club History

    The Peninsula Italian American Social Club of San Mateo can proudly trace its origin directly to the 1930s. It was either 1933 or 1934 when a group of Italian American residents of San Mateo, under the leadership of Frank Lodato, joined together to form a social club for members of the Italian American community known as the New Deal Italian-American Federation of San Mateo California. The selection of the name was influenced by the newly inaugurated national social program known as the New Deal.

     

    The first president of the club was Frank Lodato, a prominent Italian American resident of San Mateo. Among the founding members were Guido Sbragia, Mike Berta, Silvio Iannaconi, Mario Cascinai, George Cascinai, A. Vespa, Pete Garelli, S. Cilia, Frank DeMartini, Joseph Ziccone, Charles Todaro, Frank Bergano, Frank Perry, Joseph Basso, Victor Turchett, Santo Colombo, Louis Pisoni and Louie Moriconi.

     

    At that time there were four other popular Italian American organizations in San Mateo, namely the San Mateo Nest, Order of Owls chartered circa 1913; the Italian Catholic Society of San Mateo founded in the early 1920s and the American Progressive Club of San Mateo. The Italian Catholic Society has become a branch of the Italian Catholic Federation, however, the other three organizations ceased to exist many years ago.

     

    The membership of the New Deal Italian-American Federation was composed mostly of individuals whose social and political beliefs differed from those advocated by the Italian American Progressive Club.

     

    In the early years, the meetings and social events of the club were held in the homes of members. Several of them had homes with a full basement on the ground floor, which provided suitable quarters for the meetings and social events.

     

    Sometime between 1934 and 1940, the club leased a building located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Railroad in San Mateo. The premises were remodeled and used for club meetings and social events.

     

    The members of the club were all very dedicated, and enthusiastically supported the activities of the group. Many social functions were sponsored for the enjoyment of the members and their families as well as to raise funds for the club’s necessary expenses.

    Later on, due to the untiring efforts of the officers and members, the club increasingly grew and prospered. In 1941, the club was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the laws of California. Furthermore, its name was changed to the New Deal Civic Club of San Mateo.

     

    As the membership grew, the quarters on 2nd and Railroad became inadequate and undesirable for family events.

    In 1940 or 1941, the club purchased the real property on B street, now occupied by the Peninsula Italian American Social Club. The premises had been vacated by the Ford Automobile Agency, operated by Fred E. Beer. The membership immediately embarked on a major remodeling of the building to adapt it to the needs of the club for meetings, social events, as well as athletic events.

     

    In 1942, remodeling was completed. The club held an aggressive membership drive, which culminated in a gala and a very impressive inaugural celebration on February 13, 14, and 15. The festivities included an open house with buffet and entertainment on Friday evening; a Grand Ball, Dedication ceremonies, Queen coronation on Saturday evening, and an Inaugural Banquet on Sunday. Mafalda Facchini reigned as Queen of the festivities.

     

    The continued growth and outstanding accomplishments of the club have been due in great measure to the unselfish and untiring efforts of many of its members who for many years most willingly contributed their time and talent to perform the many tasks essential to build and maintain the club.

     

    In 1946, the Board of Directors of the New Deal Civic Club, adopted a resolution amending the Articles of Incorporation to provide that the name of the organization would be the Peninsula Social Club of San Mateo. The club continues to prosper as one of the premier Italian-American clubs in the Bay Area.