HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR SIGNAGE
Join us in preserving our Italian-American culture and history in Des Moines
Make it Happen!
About Us
The Little Italy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Italian American enclave in Des Moines, Iowa. Our journey began with a grassroots effort to gather signatures for a petition advocating for an ordinance to establish district signage in the Columbus Park/McKinley School neighborhood, marking it as “Little Italy.”
We are now in our second phase of this initiative, actively raising funds to bring these vital signs to life. Our goals for Little Italy DSM include:
Creating visible and comprehensive signage that enhances geographical and cultural mapping within the city, providing a clear sense of orientation for residents and visitors.
Assisting travelers in identifying historical landmarks that reflect our rich heritage.
Fostering a unique identity for the Little Italy neighborhood and its business district within the broader City of Des Moines.
Attracting and supporting local business owners to cultivate a thriving business district that offers shopping and dining experiences for both the community and visitors.
Together, we can celebrate and elevate the legacy of Italian Americans in Des Moines, ensuring that our culture continues to flourish for generations to come.
Our Tee
We partnered and did a design collaboration with Raygun for our first Italian American T-Shirt! While we had limited stock on this tee and if you were lucky enough to get one, congrats!
No worries, we are working on our next design! Stay tuned for another amazing Tee!
Make a donation
It all begun with a dream. We saw our Italian American enclave being torn down and forgotten. While many Italian Americans have moved out of the area, we felt it was important to help preserve what remains and make sure to not the history for the future generations to visit what was once Little Italy DSM
