The fund-raising campaign "Finalmente da Soli!" kicks off to support the AIPD (Associazione Italiana Persone Down)
Rome, 20 December 2024
This year, FS Group with its Christmas fund-raising campaign "Finalmente da Soli" supports AIPD, the Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome, which has been supporting people with Down Syndrome and their families for 45 years. The Association strives to disseminate information, promote school and work inclusion, and carry out awareness-raising campaigns.
The fund-raising will help the "Casa AIPD" project, supporting the autonomy of people with Down's Syndrome, and will contribute to the renovation works and purchase of equipment for the new multifunctional headquarters of AIPD Nazionale, at the Roma Trastevere station.
"Over the years, FS Group's commitment to social policies has grown and matured, defining priorities that we support and accompany with structural interventions. In this context, the Fund-raising Campaign represents a historical driver of our work: for more than 10 years, we have been carrying out this initiative that fully expresses our way of doing business, and identifies us as a responsible company that contributes to promoting good practices - stated Paola Longobardo, People Care Manager - This year, we are happy to be at the side of AIPD (Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome) and support the realisation of projects for training and people with Down Syndrome and making them independent, whilst promoting the fundamental values of inclusion and solidarity".
"Thanks to the precious partnership with the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group and its companies, we have the opportunity to tell our story and our goals in a unique context, on Intercity and High Speed trains, which symbolically become the vessels of our independence and participation - states Gianfranco Salbini, President of AIPD Nazionale - I would like to thank the FS Group for this extraordinary opportunity, and for sharing with us the idea that, in order to build actual independence, we need supportive and capable travelling companions. I hope that this initiative, which will accompany us during Christmas, Easter and until 30 June, will be more than an opportunity to achieve our goals, but also to spread a message of inclusion and possibility. Therefore, I’d like to invite everyone to support this campaign and join us on this high-speed journey towards a more autonomous and engaging future for all people with Down syndrome".
"In order to conquer autonomy, we need good travelling companions firsts - explains Daniele Castignani, who presented and coordinates the project for AIPD - We are sure that this journey together with FS, which is starting in these days, will take us far, and will bring us closer to the destination our Association has always chosen: conquering independence and full social engagement, for all people with Down syndrome".
From 20 December 2024 to 12 January 2025, and during the Easter period from 15 to 23 April 2025, thanks to the commitment of 180 AIPD volunteers, some of whom with Down syndrome, and FS Group companies, you may join the campaign on board Trenitalia's main High Speed and Intercity trains, with a minimum donation of €3. The fund-raising will also be available at Trenitalia's self-service ticket offices, in the Freccia Lounge and Freccia Club in main Italian stations, and on AIPD online page dedicated to the FS Group.