Associazione Elisa - We help the most needy
Interview with Ana Mantegazza and Ariella Del Rocino, philanthropists and members of the board of Associazione Elisa
Ana Mantegazza and Ariella Del Rocino, members of the board of Associazione Elisa, talk about the history and activities of a charitable organization that has been helping needy, seriously ill children undergoing treatment in Ticino for over 25 years.
How did the idea of founding Associazione Elisa come about and what is its mission?
Ana Mantegazza: "It all began at the end of the 1990s, when the Elisa Foundation in Locarno approached Mario Mantegazza's company Publigood to carry out a communication campaign about its activities to support sick children and their families. It was then that we got to know Dr. Luisa Nobile Buetti and the difficulties, including economic ones, that had to be overcome in order to help the families of seriously ill children. In addition to the suffering caused by their children's illnesses, they had to contend with major financial, social, psychological, educational and organizational problems. So a group of women from Lugano decided to found an association that would support the activities, which became increasingly numerous and financially costly over the years, primarily through fundraising campaigns. Personally, I was enthusiastic about getting involved in this initiative and giving my time to it, as I grew up in a family environment where empathy and solidarity towards others have always been widely accepted.
Ariella Del Rocino: "An important aspect to emphasize is that Ticino generally offers excellent healthcare and guarantees an excellent standard of living. However, there are situations of material and emotional hardship that affect people who suffer from long and serious illnesses. Despite all the help that our society offers, there are many problems and difficulties that remain the responsibility of families and jeopardize their functioning because they are not covered by social security".
What is the strength of Associazione Elisa that has enabled it to grow over the years and meet its commitments?
Ana Mantegazza: "Our strength is probably that from the beginning we have formed a small, cohesive group that has remained unchanged over time and has allowed us to achieve the goals we have set ourselves with perseverance and a great deal of commitment. Voluntariness and the continuous commitment of many friends and acquaintances were decisive in this. You could say that over the years, a true family of "supporters" has formed, helping us in every possible way to realize projects and initiatives.
What are the specific areas in which Associazione Elisa 's activities are carried out?
Ariella Del Rocino: "One support that is very close to Associazione El isa's heart is to enable mothers to stay close to their sick child throughout the illness. The mother's presence has a decisive influence on the acceptance of the often very difficult treatment and also on the child's recovery process. The support concerns children suffering from serious illnesses of any kind (congenital, neurological, oncological, metabolic, psychological, etc.). Also thanks to our donations, it is possible to provide families in difficulty not only with a direct financial contribution, e.g. to cover the loss of earnings during a loss of work or to cover the costs of living away from home, but also to ensure the activation of a whole range of social interventions by public and private bodies. Finally, personal contacts and sensitive support for the child and their family should not be neglected.
For some years now, Associazione Elisa has also been supporting other charitable organizations...
Ana Mantegazza: "In addition to the Elisa Foundation, we also support other associations that are well-established in Ticino. For example, we help the Casa Santa Elisabetta association, which has been dedicated to helping single mothers since 1947. The association looks after children and supports mothers in their social context with professional social work approaches. We also support the activities of Croce Verde Lugano, an institution that is very close to the hearts of the people of Ticino.
And that brings us to the heart of your activities, at least as far as fundraising is concerned, namely the Gran Gala della Solidarietà...
Ariella Del Rocino: "It's an event that takes place every year on an evening in November, but it takes months of work to organize. For us, it is the event to maintain contacts and relationships that we have built up with a lot of commitment and dedication. The sponsors, who have been active and close partners since the beginning, allow us to better organize our activities, as do all those who, through donations, enable us to help those who really need it. We also have volunteers who help us to manage the various activities. Our thanks go to all of them and to all the people we are able to help. The Associazione Elisa has been able to realize many projects over the years and was also able to raise a very significant sum at this year's big gala.
Ana Mantegazza: "This event has become an integral part of social life in Lugano. Some have even gone so far as to compare it to the big Red Cross Gala in Monaco. I would rather say that it is based on the reality of a few hundred people, many of whom know each other and meet regularly throughout the year, while others are already at the head of their own foundations or are involved in other charitable activities, coming together for a common cause, namely to support the activities of Associazione Elisa. The fact that it is a nice social event does not detract from the cause; on the contrary, if possible, the pleasantness of the evening is a further incentive for a generous donation.
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