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Abruzzo Cherry-Picked; the Holiday & Lifestyle Guide to Italy's Rocky Heart 
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Fundraising for L’Aquila
Fundraise to Help Rebuild Lives
Okay so you have made your personal donation to victims of the L’Aquila earthquake what next? Redbuilding L’Aquila & the surrounding Abruzzo hill-top villages is a long-term project and we will need to continue to help raise funds & build awareness to assist in the rebuilding of so many people’s lives.
Alternatives to On-the-Ground VolunteeringAt the moment Italy is saying no to offers of ground help from international volunteers, but there are many other additional ways that one can continue to help, namely by keeping the profile of the region in the news. The Gran Sasso Mountains are still experiencing both strong quakes and aftershocks of over 4 on the Richter Scale north east of L’Aquila & people continue to be evacuated from their homes at night into municipal areas for safety.
Many newspapers have already ‘finished’ covering L’Aquila, it’s not a finished story, there continues to be new devastation & fear, draw their attention to this by alerting people to the latest seismic activity published by the National Institute of Vulcanology & Seismology.
On Saturday 11th April another 3 bodies were pulled from the rubble this puts the figure at 293 now. After studying before & after photographs The Italian Space Agency has announced that in some areas there is land subsidence of 15cm. Understandably with such news peoples optimism of being able to move back into their standing houses is fading, each & every single house around the L’Aquila needs to be thoroughly checked, more so now that the Crimimal Investigation has begun into negligent building.
Ideas for Fundraising & Raising Awareness
If you have a fantastic idea how to fundraise for L’Aquila, please post your idea below. Everyone’s heads are spinning at the moment but albeit a music jamming event extraordinaire, a jumble sale in your village hall or sponsored walk tell the world what you are planning and when. L’Aquila has adopted the new slogan – “Not even if broken do we fall back” that you could incorporate into part of your fundraising message:
“Nec recisa recedit, Neachnce spezzata recede!”
Petition the Italian Government
It’s quick, free & easy – sign the ipetition to the Italian government & Development charities to ensure that L’Aquila’s cultural, historical & social rebuild uses legitimate companies who deliver works on-time and which meet all required building standards (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/laquila-renaissance/)
Need Help Organising
If you need assistance for your idea post a comment and request it, somebody with another skill base may just read your request and post an offer to help or advise to make your original idea even more successful. Who knows you may help seed someone else to grow something similar in another village, town, city or country to also raise funds for helping to re-build in all ways L’Aquila’s shattered population. We are publishing all events on the new English language group on Facebook called ‘L’Aquila Renaissance‘, please do join if you are a Facebook member.
Be Careful
Please do be careful who you donate your hard-earned monies to – we have an official list here.There has already been press reports of illegal websites and fraudsters out there trying to benefit from this tragedy, don’t get caught out by them. If you are approached by an organisation, by email or visit a website you haven’t heard of before check them out and request information about them. Your fundraised monies are too precious to get lost in the wrong hands…. We asked Joshua Lawrence, an American L’Aquila resident for 10 + years if there was anything he would ask those outside Italy to consider when deciding who to give their donations to, he said
“Make sure your donations go to charities that are investing in L’Aquila’s long-term future and prosperity. Double check that any charity ‘rebuilding’ the city has firm delivery deadlines in place & a commitment to restoring the city’s heritage and heart in addition to building new homes”.
Our Easy Online Fundraising Suggestions
If you don’t like knocking on doors, sell something online via Ebay. It’s Spring, so it’s the season to have a mini clear-out. Put what you no longer wear or find useful on Ebay and donate the profits to a charity of your choice. This is called Community Selling – read here for more information and you can donate your profits directly to the Red Cross… it’s easy
. Ebay have also now set up the option if you buy something on Ebay the option to donate £1/$1/€1 directly to the L’Aquila Earthquake Fund so now is a great time to shop!About the Author
Sammy Dunham is a web marketing consultant, designing websites & writing copy to optimise web presence for her clients at webSEOlive. Past lives saw her studying in Firenze after which she taught History of Art & English and lived in Barcelona & The Bahamas. Keen on travel & photography, food & wine, co-editing Life in Abruzzo is her perfect job.Posted in: L'Aquila's Earthquake
Related Information
- Donate & Help L’Aquila Earthquake Victims
- Charity Christmas Cards – After the L’Aquila Earthquake
- Art for L’Aquila Invitation
Have your Say!
9 comments for “Fundraising for L’Aquila”Agree, disagree have a comment that you would like to add about this? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Post your comment, wait for it to be moderated and we'll send you an email as soon as it is live.
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I Chair an unofficial twinning between Tring, Herts., UK and Loreto Aprutino, Abruzzo and here in Tring we have staged a week-long fund-raising event. Local restaurants, delicatessen and hairdressers have been creative with their ideas. One chain of restaurants (Oakman Inns) have produced an Italian Menu where all profits go to the fund-raising pot. Another restaurant (Da Vinci) has a board with lottery numbers for sale, and the person who draws a number which matches the Lottery Bonus Ball wins a superb hamper of Italian Produce. The hairdressers has a raffle to win a free cut & blow-dry and free highlights.
At the end of the week, when we know what we have raised we will decide who to give the money to, and we take onboard the advice given on this site. We are in touch with L’Aquila hospital asking for re-assurance that re-building contracts are given to appropriate contractors.
Throughout this venture we have been supported by local press and the BBC Oxford news desk, who are keen to come to Abruzzo to see the story completed.
I would appreciate any advice on worthy recipients for monetary assistance.
Keep up the good work.
Sheila de Rosa
Hi Sam,
please consider to give some emphasis to the following
http://www.ideasforlaquila.org
it is an academic initiative which published a “call for ideas” about a new vision for a city to be starting from the city it was.
Thank you,
Alfonso Pierantonio
University of L’Aquila
[...] the tragic victims of this earthquake. For fundraising ideas and further ways to help read Life in Abruzzo’s Fundraising Ideas and read about events near [...]
Hi there Sam,
http://www.abruzzonelcuore.org/
This is Jarno Trulli’s (Toyota F1 driver’s) website for Abruzzo.
The Ferrari team sported the words ‘Abruzzo Nel Cuore’ on their cars this weekend in China and thought you could perhaps create a link to it also.
Romano.
London – Picnic in the Park – all funds to the Red Cross
When: 9th May
Where: Battersea Park
What: Picnic & raffle all funds to the Red Cross L’Aquila Fund.
All prizes most welcome, already Goucho Restaurant, Carluccio’s, Pinko have given so if you can contribute let us know.
Facebook Reference: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=78315046666
Organised by Italianalondra
Saturday 18th April - there is a fundraising ‘Italian Cena’ (dinner) in French House (6433 North Frances Street) organized by the French & Italian Depts & the Piazza Italia Clubs @ Wisconsin Uni, USA.
Cost : $10.
The collection will go to the NIAF/Abruzzo Relief Fund. There is no better cause to go and eat buffet pasta for!
Thank you Sammy, I have a target of 1600 euro (4 pictures @400 ea ) Already i have had a lot of interest. If pictures sell quickly enough I will include more picture from my Abruzzo files. My page on Deviantart is called Pictd and if people wish they can also contact me re. buying images displayed on that site or my own pictorial section featured on my own website. All printing and framing costs are being borne by me so all the money raised will be going to the relief fund. I am also toying with the idea of offering my services as a wedding photographer to someone getting married in the Abruzzo region and the full monies I receive from that I would also donate to the fund.
Thanks again,
Tom Doherty
Tom Doherty is an award winning Irish photographer who will be holding a photography exhibition in aid of L’Aquila.
Where: Country Choice, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Ireland
Features: The pictures from different villages in Abruzzo and one of L’Aquila.
Funds Raised will go to: Pro Loco in Carapelle Calvisio & taken there on his return to Abruzzo on 17 May 2009.
Images can be purchased, you can view online his style before Friday at via his website or DeviantArt Gallery.
We’ve been contacted by The UK Rotary Club, they are launching a worldwide appeal to buy ‘Shelter Boxes’ – this includes a trackable 10-man tent, blankets and the basic living & cooking essentials that every individual needs, contact your local club to find out more…, you can read more about the Shelter Boxes here