Every December, the 200-plus members of the American
International League of Florence ONLUS (AILO) hold the annual Christmas Bazaar
to collect funds that, later in the year, will be distributed to charities in
the province of Florence that presented their projects to ONLUS. These
charities are carefully vetted by the donation research committee and finally
voted on by the members of the league.
On Donation Day, held in the Salone dei Cinquecento at
Palazzo Vecchio, the funds collected are allocated to the charities that
presented a project. The opportunity for these associations to present
themselves and their project was often never before possible, making Donation
Day not just a fund-raising event, but also an opportunity to give public
recognition to those who better the lives of others on a daily basis.
On May 4, 13 organizations were recognised and
rewarded by AILO in the presence of Mary Ellen Countryman, US Consul and
Honorary President of AILO; Eugenio Giani, president of the Consiglio Comunale;
Linda Clouse, president of AILO; and many members and guests of the league.
Eugenio Giani awarded the AILO with the coveted prize of Il Marzocco, an
unexpected surprise that has encouraged league members to continue their work
in Florence.
Thanks were also extended GE Volunteers and Bolliger,
the official bazaar sponsors. Many companies and individuals also contribute to
the success of the event, which serves as a meeting place for those who share a
commitment to making a difference in the local community.
