After a disastrous Po River flood in Italy in 1951, Portland's Italian-American business community joined to assist Italians in recovering from that tragedy. Recognizing the benefits of a common bond, the official establishment of the IBC was begun in 1952 with the premise of providing civic service to the community, as well as preserving and promoting Italian culture and maintaining the friendships that were formed. From its inception, the IBC has taken a leading role on behalf of many worthwhile causes in the Portland area and abroad, including an ongoing Italian language scholarship at Portland State University.

Italy’s disastrous PO river flood in the fall of 1951 was the spark that brought the Italian Businessmen’s Club to life. After a visit to Portland by champion boxer Primo Carnera, local Italian businessmen united in an emergency relief effort under the leadership of the late A.C. Cecchini (General Chairman of the Italian Flood Relief Fund). Cecchini, who also owned the Lido restraint, and Carlo J. Sposito formulated the idea of a permanent organization dedicated to civic service and the preservation and promotion of Italian culture. The Italian Businessmen’s Club was officially established in January 1952.

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