'Eternamente Verona' | Hellas Verona Foundation’s solidarity evening for the ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ project held at Castel San Pietro

Verona - In the stunning setting of Castel San Pietro, with the illuminated city of Verona as a backdrop, ‘Eternamente Verona’, a charity event promoted by Hellas Verona Foundation, took place today, Saturday 9 May. The evening was organised to once again celebrate the values of solidarity, inclusion and closeness to the community that, for the past four years, have guided the Foundation’s commitment through support for social projects, associations and families across the Verona area.

The event brought together partners, supporters and international guests with the aim of supporting the ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ project backed by the Club in favour of Caritas Diocesana Veronese. The project involves the redevelopment of a space on Lungadige Matteotti that will become a new shelter home for ten young women facing hardship, victims of violence, homeless women, precarious workers or students in conditions of economic vulnerability.

After thanking the Hellas Verona Foundation Committee, which has supported the Foundation’s activities since this season, the event was officially opened by Hellas Verona Executive President Italo Zanzi, who highlighted the deeper meaning of the evening, underlining the connection between the Club, the city and the community: “This event represents something very profound for our Club. ‘Eternamente Verona’ is not just a charity event, but a moment in which the city, the Club, partners and the community come together around shared values. Seeing so many people gathered to support the Foundation’s work is a source of great pride. From Castel San Pietro you can see the whole of Verona, and it is precisely to this city that Hellas wants to continue giving something back, through concrete projects and initiatives capable of having a real impact on the local area".

This was followed by remarks from Hellas Verona Foundation President Dirk Swaneveld, who thanked everyone present for their support and closeness to the ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ project: “Thank you to everyone who took part and thank you for supporting such an important cause. ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ will truly make a difference in the lives of many young women, and we are deeply grateful for the generosity of those who have contributed and will continue to do so. It is wonderful to see so many people from Verona and so many people who have come from abroad. In many ways, this reflects the spirit of Hellas Verona: deeply connected to this city, yet also capable of bringing together people from all over the world. I am very happy with the work done for this event and extremely grateful to everyone who helped make it possible".

Representatives of Caritas Diocesana also attended, including Bishop Mons. Domenico Pompili, President of Caritas Verona, Silvia Sinibaldi, Deputy Director of Caritas Italiana, and Don Matteo Malosto, Director of Caritas Diocesana Veronese.

These were the words of Mons. Domenico Pompili: “First of all, I would like to thank Hellas Verona for the choice it made and which we had the opportunity to share together. What the Club and Caritas Verona are achieving through this project represents something truly significant, even at a national level. When sport chooses to open itself to society and the local area, it fulfils even more deeply what its true mission is. And this evening, from this place that symbolically overlooks the whole city, this message emerges very strongly: the desire to go beyond the simple sporting event in order to become a concrete presence and show attention towards the most vulnerable people. I believe this house represents a very tangible sign of all this. It is a project that places the most disadvantaged people at its centre and demonstrates how sport should not be limited to being merely a moment of gathering, but can also become a tool for closeness, responsibility and inclusion. For this reason, I would also like to express, on behalf of the Church of Verona, sincere gratitude to Hellas Verona for the sensitivity shown and for choosing to undertake this journey together".

“Being welcomed in such a special place, during such a meaningful evening, fully represents the essence of Caritas,” commented Silvia Sinibaldi. “Caritas Italiana would not exist without local communities and diocesan Caritas organisations, such as the one in Verona, which every day give concrete form to that sense of family, closeness and care towards the most vulnerable people. The latest data from the Caritas Italiana Poverty Report show that women are increasingly exposed to situations of economic and social vulnerability. The figures from anti-violence centres also reveal a worrying reality: 76% of the women who turn to them are not financially independent. It is precisely within this context that initiatives such as ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ take on even greater importance, because they represent a concrete path of support and rebirth, capable of accompanying people towards renewed independence and offering them the opportunity to resume their journey with strength and awareness. Finally, I would like to underline the value of the connection with sport, which is certainly competition and education, but above all an extraordinary instrument for community and inclusion. For this reason, the fact that a prestigious organisation such as the Hellas Verona Foundation has chosen to step forward and build this alliance in support of the project sends an important message to the entire city. It is a gesture that honours not only the Club, but the whole Veronese community and the values it represents".

Don Matteo Malosto finally underlined: “It is a great honour to be here this evening. This house is located in the historic headquarters of Caritas and, when I arrived two years ago, I immediately thought that the spaces intended for offices could be transformed into something different and even more important. From this idea came a place in a wonderful area of Verona, designed to welcome women who, often victims of violence, first and foremost need protection, a home and, even more deeply, a family. Without a project like this, none of this would be possible. And this is exactly what we strive to do every day: transform ten stories into ten new opportunities for a fresh start".

‘Eternamente Verona’ once again confirmed the strong bond between the Club and the local community, demonstrating how sport can become a concrete instrument of support and social inclusion. Through projects such as ‘Casa Insieme a Voi’ and the other activities promoted by the Foundation, Hellas Verona will continue supporting people and local organisations through initiatives dedicated to hospitality, inclusion and social support.