At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, amidst red carpets and international stars, there was room for a different kind of evening, where it was not just evening gowns and photographers’ flashes that shone, but solidarity. The Italian Red Cross, together with Mastercard and UniCredit, chose the lagoon to launch the first edition of the Charity Gala Dinner: an elegant and emotionally charged event created to promote the project “Sport, Health and Inclusion – Italy,” dedicated to children and young people living in fragile conditions.
Leading the evening with grace and passion was Eleonora Daniele. The journalist and TV host welcomed guests and partners to the stage, recounting with her sensitivity the importance of an initiative that focuses on the youngest: “I am happy and honored to be here,” she said, “because sport is not a luxury, it is a right. It is a very powerful tool for inclusion and growth, which can change the lives of children by offering them hope, possibilities and a better future.”
A project that speaks of hope
The centerpiece of the Gala was the official launch of the “Sport, Health and Inclusion-Italy” project, which consists of two concrete actions: “Donate a Year of Sport,” to enable minors from vulnerable families to practice sports free of charge for twelve months, and the residential and non-residential “CRI Youth Summer Camps,” designed to promote socialization, inclusion and healthy lifestyles among 8 to 17-year-olds.
Italian Red Cross President Rosario Valastro stressed from the stage, “Young people, before being our future, are our present. With this project we want to accompany them in their daily lives, offering opportunities for growth and well-being, especially to those who are most fragile. Sport is health, cohesion, redemption. And with the help of Mastercard, UniCredit and our 150,000 volunteers on the ground, we can make a difference.”
The magic of a gala evening
The Scuola Grande della Misericordia in Venice, a historic location already the protagonist of events related to the Biennale, was the setting for an unforgettable dinner. After the welcome cocktail, the more than 200 guests enjoyed a menu signed by the Gualtiero Marchesi Foundation, with chef Daniel Canzian in the kitchen. Refined atmosphere, glittering tables, smiles and many well-known faces from entertainment and sports.
There was no shortage of celebrities to support the cause: from Vittoria Puccini to Marco Bonadei, from producer Federica Lucisano to screenwriter Giulia Calenda, and two Italian sports legends Stefano Pantano (fencing) and Stefano Maniscalco (karate). Amid toasts and applause, at 10 p.m. the evening was graced by a musical performance that warmed up the audience.
The result was extraordinary: thanks to donations, guests and the charity lottery, more than 150 thousand euros were raised to support the project.
The words of the partners
The support of Mastercard and UniCredit was decisive. “We are pleased to have hosted, in the framework of the Biennale Cinema 2025 of which we are the main sponsor, such an important solidarity initiative,” said Luca Corti, Country Manager of Mastercard Italy. “Cinema, sport and solidarity have the power to inspire, unite and generate transformation. These are values that are part of our philosophy.”
Of the same spirit was Remo Taricani, Deputy Head of UniCredit Italy: “We enthusiastically joined this initiative because we deeply believe in the educational value of sport. Providing opportunities for less fortunate children means building stronger and more inclusive communities. It is an investment in everyone’s future.”
An award for cinema that is good for the heart
The presence of the Red Cross in Venice did not end with the Gala. Until Sept. 5, in fact, it will take center stage with the Italian Red Cross Collateral Award, intended for the film that will most effectively interpret the values of humanity, empathy and inclusion. The jury, composed of film professionals such as Paolo Genovese, Giulia Calenda, Federica Lucisano, Vittoria Puccini and director of photography Fabrizio Lucci, will award the prize in a ceremony at theExcelsior Hotel on the Lido.
An award that-as the jury itself recalled-wants to keep the light on the tragedies of our time, from wars to humanitarian dramas, and at the same time promote a culture of peace and solidarity.
Glamour that meets solidarity
The Red Cross’ Venetian evening proved that glamour is not just appearance, but can become an instrument of good. In the city of dreams, among cinema and stars, the desire to help those who have less shone through above all.
As Eleonora Daniele recalled with emotion, “Each of us can make a difference. Tonight we celebrated not only cinema, but life. And the lives of children always deserve our greatest commitment.”
A message that remains engraved in hearts, because in Venice – for one night – the red carpet truly became a carpet of solidarity.
