Through the invitation of Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey and the encouragement  of Geraldine A Ferraro a small group of Italian American women met at Dr. Sirey's home on July 14, 1980 to start the group. The founding members included Aileen Riotto Sirey, then-U.S. Representative from New York Geraldine Ferraro, Matilda Cuomo (wife of Mario Cuomo, then Lieutenant Governor of New York), Donna deMatteo, Bonnie Mandina and Roseanne Colletti.
On July 14, 1980, a group of Italian American women convened at Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey's home with Geraldine Ferraro’s backing to form the organization. The founding members included Aileen Riotto Sirey, then-U.S. Representative from New York Geraldine Ferraro, Matilda Cuomo (wife of Mario Cuomo, who was then Lieutenant Governor of New York), Donna deMatteo, Bonnie Mandina, and Roseanne Colletti.