Originally called "L'Ordine Figli d'Italia," the Order Sons of Italy in America was established in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City on June 22, 1905, by Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D., and five other Italian immigrants who came to the United States during the great Italian migration (1880-1923). Their aim was to create a support system for all Italian immigrants that would assist them with becoming U.S. citizens, provide health/death benefits and educational opportunities and offer assistance with assimilation in America.

Just six years later, in 1911, a group of immigrants living in the Roxborough/Manayunk-area of Philadelphia joined with the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to form a lodge named "Thoughts of Liberty." Later, in 1954, under the direction of Guiseppe Mercurio and the Porrecca family, the Lodge was renamed "Ivy Ridge 251".

Members of the Ivy Ridge Lodge participate in many activities including scholarship and mentoring programs, cultural preservation, anti-defamation projects, fundraising for numerous charities including the Alzheimer's Association and Coolies Anemia, an annual Thanksgiving food drive, an annual Christmas toy drive and a variety of other community-based projects.

The Ivy Ridge Lodge is also proud of its youth who formed the first known O.S.I.A. youth group, the I Giovani Committee in 1994. Many of the founding members from 1994 now hold leadership positions in the Lodge. Several are State officers as well. The Ivy Ridge Lodge is proud to say that of its more than 500 members, the average age is 34 years young! Its youngest members are less than one year old.

I Giovani is a diverse group of young professionals who love their Italian heritage. They gather during and after the monthly meetings to socialize and network and get involved with Lodge and community activities or just to plan their next fundraiser, social, or trip they will be taking together.