Originally Published: 2009-04-26

Ivana Fracasso is caught between a sense of satisfaction and sorrow.The president of the Federazione Abruzzese is glad about how well the fundraising for Abruzzo earthquake victims is going (thanks to the Italian-Canadian community's generosity), but on the other hand, there’s the sadness over the tragedy that increases day by day.
“We’ve received a lot of evidence of affection and generosity, and not only from the Italian community,”says Fracasso. “The Jewish and Greek communities, for example, have demonstrated their solidarity with us. On the other side, however, the situation in Abruzzo remains serious and when I think of it or see images on TV, my heart wrenches.”
The telephone at the head office of the Federazione Abruzzese rings non-stop with calls of donations and support from cities like Waterloo, London, and St. Catherines.
Donations currently total over $220,000 with the amount constantly increasing.
“The extraordinary thing is that these are spontaneous displays of solidarity,” Fracasso says. “I don’t have to ask anyone for anything. It’s the people who are calling. A few days ago, the president of the Federazione dei Calabresi of Ontario, Tony Silipo, called to tell me they’ve decided to donate another $5,000. The Speca Investment Group, for example, gave us another $10,000. The associations affiliated with the Federazione Abruzzese are organizing more fundraising events.”
It has not yet been decided where the funds will be distrib-uted, or how they will be spent, but Fracasso emphasizes that the goal is “maximum transparency.” This moral standard for the Federazione Abruzzese is taken from the international humanitarian organization, Ordine dei Cavalieri di Malta, which has opened a trust fund for the Abruzzo earthquake victims.
“We’re completely entrusting them because they are an internationally recognized humanitarian organization,” specified Fracasso, “some of whose members are part of our community who have distinguished themselves for their philanthropy, such as Mario Cortellucci who had, in fact, received a decoration of honour just days before the earthquake. The Cavalieri di Malta will forward us any donation that exceeds $10,000. Once the fundraising is over, the money will be frozen in the bank account until we know directly from Abruzzi institutions what they are most in need of. At that point, we’ll decide who to donate the money to, but our wish is to contribute to the rebuilding, above all, of L’Aquila, the hardest hit city.”

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