Heart & Hand Awards
2024 Villa Charities Heart & Hand Awards
On Friday, October 25, 2024, Villa Charities Foundation proudly hosted the 2024 Heart & Hand Awards, Villa Charities’ signature event for recognizing the outstanding contributions of our volunteers and partners.
Over 320 guests gathered at the Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre to help us celebrate our remarkable volunteers and partners, and enjoy musical entertainment from Michael Occhipinti, exceptional dining, and a silent auction. This signature recognition event was transformed to mark an important time in raising much-needed funds to support Villa Charities’ mission of enriching lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage.
Throughout the evening, 13 volunteer and corporate partner recipients for the Villa Charities group of companies were presented with the 2024 Heart & Hand Award. In addition, Villa Charities Founding Member Mr. Anthony Fusco Sr. was recognized with the inaugural Villa Charities Heart & Hand Outstanding Volunteer Award for his remarkable dedication, advocacy, and philanthropic support of Villa Charities and its affiliates over the past five decades.
The event raised $522,340, which included a generous donation that evening of $250,000 from Anthony Fusco Sr. and the Fusco family. These funds will help fund Villa Charities’ programs, services and areas of greatest need.
Villa Charities extends its sincere appreciation to the Boards, leadership and staff at Villa Charities and the Affiliates. Grazie mille!
About the Heart & Hand Awards
Initiated in 1984, the Heart & Hand Awards are presented by the Chair of each of the Villa Charities family organizations to one volunteer who has demonstrated dedication and commitment above and beyond the call of duty. This prestigious award recognizes volunteers who dedicate themselves to Villa Charities every year. The receipt of the distinct and exclusive Heart & Hand Award remains the premier volunteer recognition across the Villa Charities family.
In 2024, the Heart & Hand Awards also included the launch of the Heart & Hand Partner Award as well as introducing the Outstanding Volunteer Award, which was presented to Anthony Fusco Sr. in recognition of his dedication to Villa Charities through both his commitment of time and financial support of the Villa Charities family of organizations. This award was renamed as the Anthony Fusco Sr. Outstanding Volunteer Award in his honour.
Heart & Hand Award Recipients
Outstanding Volunteer
Anthony Fusco Sr.
Award Recipients
Santo Veltri
Aldo Cundari
Anna Iafrate
Joseph Fusco
Quinto Annibale
Francesca Della Savia
Luisa Tmej
Partner Awards
Master Insurance Ltd.
Pizza Nova
Nortown Air
MediSystem
Arvan Rehab Group
Ralph Grittani
Tea Calamia
Stephen Pasquale
Rev. Dr. Bill Fritz
Jim DeGasperis
Mauro Baldassarra
Sam Ciccolini
Ernie Rinomato
Toni Varone
Alfredo DeGasperis
Dr. Domenico Di Carlo
Helen Tramontin
Nicholas Sgro
Michael Caruso
Nick Torchetti
Joseph Gennaro
Camille Mainelli
Alessandro Busato
Dr. Wendell Block
Gioconda Rosati
Edward Sorbara
Toni Varone
Mario Giampietri
Paul Pellegrini
Lucia Favret
Wilma Cesario
Leo Del Zotto
Karen Manarin
Paul Mior
Toni Ciccarelli
Enrico De Pasquale
Colly Cavalluzzo
Elvio Del Zotto
John Gennaro
Helen Lettieri
Fr. Luigi Malorzo
Roberto Martella
Tiberio Mascarin
Galli Tiberini
Virginia Ariemma
Freddie Liberta
Catherine Barbaro
Angelo Delfino
Antonietta Morra
Dr. Marisa Zorzitto
John Cirillo
Celeste Iacobelli
Renzo Pillon
Fortunato Rao
Mary Bartolini
John Capo
Perry Dolente
Dr. Jamie Uhrig
Domenic Alfieri
Silvio De Gasperis
Joyce Frustaglio
Mary Lou Ianni
Elio Rosati
Joseph Chiappetta
Mary Bartolini
John Di Poce
Georgina Madott
Elio Madonia
Elio Rosati
Rudolph P. Bratty
Joseph D. Carrier
Fred De Gasperis
Angelo Del Zotto
Con Di Nino
Orey Fidani
Anthony Fusco
Marco Muzzo
Joseph Zentil