Volunteer organization AILO (American International League of Florence Onlus) held its annual Donation Day on Thursday, April 6 in the Sala Brunelleschi of Palagio di Parte Guelfa. The ceremony spotlighted the local and regional charities selected by the organization to receive proceeds from its Christmas Bazaar, which was held at Convitto della Calza in December 2016.
AILO President Jocelyn Fitzgerald served as master of ceremonies, while Abigail Rupp, U.S. Consul General in Florence, and Sara Funaro, Councillor for Health and Welfare for the Comune di Firenze, also made remarks.
AILO Donation Day ceremony | Ph. Helen Farrell
Representatives from each of the 12 chosen charities spoke about the scope of their organizations and the projects to which the funds will be directed. This year’s charities include the AISLA (The Italian Association for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which trains volunteers and works with caretakers for those afflicted with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease; AMA (Amici del Mondo Animale), which runs a cat shelter in need of a new covering and FELV vaccination funds; Associazione Banco Alimentare della Toscana Onlus, a food distribution group in need of an industrial cleaner; Centro Recupero Rapaci del Mugello, which cares for wounded wild animals and birds and needs funding for new cages; Ci Incontriamo, an association bringing together children with disabilities and able-bodied young ones for social activities and courses; CIRS, a day centre for people aged 16 and up with disabilities; CUI “I Ragazzi del Sole”, a group working on the Dopo di Noi project, which furnishes apartments for young adults with disabilities, helping them cultivate independence and launch life outside their parents’ homes; Gaetano Barberi S.C.A.R.L. – Onlus, a day centre for people aged 18 to 40 with disabilities with a community garden project underway; Il Nido di Pippi, a foster care association for children, people with disabilities and the elderly; Soccorso Clown s.c.s. Onlus, a group bringing laughter to local hospital hallways, in need of clean lab coats, new props and musical instruments; TelefonoAzzurro Onlus “Bambini in Carcere”, a children’s rights organization working on a home improvement project for children visiting or living with parents in the Sollicciano Prison; and The British Institute of Florence, a cultural centre and language school aimed at promoting cross-cultural friendship and understanding, with an accessibility initiative underway.
Following the ceremony, AILO hosted a reception at the Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci.
