The Columbus Statue Restoration Project was successfully completed in 2024

In June of 2020, the Columbus Monument, which stood as a fixture in the Richmond, VA community for 93 years, was illegally toppled and vandalized by protesters during the riots that year. IACA petitioned the City of Richmond to obtain ownership of the statue, acquiring the statue in February, 2023. Monies were raised through generous donations from our members, individuals and organizations to repair and restore the statue through The Columbus Statue Restoration Fund. Efforts to keep the restored statue in Richmond and Virginia were undermined by fear of violence to the statue and its guardians.

In September, 2024, IACA located a permanent site for the Columbus Statue, where it is prominently displayed on the grounds of The Rockland Order of the Sons of Italy Lodge in Blauvelt, NY where it is appreciated as a work of art and continues the legacy of Columbus for current and future generations.

Today, IACA keeps the legacy of Columbus alive in Richmond! The Christopher Columbus Fund, provides grants and donations to individuals and organizations to improve the lives of refugees, immigrants and those in need through humanitarian assistance. Your donation helps support IACA’s efforts at re-establishing and celebrating the legacy of Christopher Columbus in Richmond, improving the lives of today’s immigrants and refugees, who have legally entered into our society, allowing them to obtain the same dreams and goals that all of us as immigrants or descendants of immigrants searched for in the journey to America.

To support ongoing cultural preservation and heritage efforts, visit our Columbus Legacy Grant Program Page.

John Corritone, Committee Chair