Bebe Vio hostess at the WEmbrace Awards. And Von der Leyen praises her: “Wonderful work”

Great success for the first edition of WEmbrace Awards at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan. A gala dinner for charity, born from the WEmbrace movement, conceived by Baby Vio Grandis with the ONLUS art4sport association – inspired by its history and engaged in fundraising to purchase prostheses and sports aids to improve the quality of life of children with amputations.

Ursula Von der Leyen’s message

Guest of honor of the evening, through a special video message, the president of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen who, speaking of the WEmbrace Awards said: “Bebe you are doing an incredible job to help children with disabilities to play sports, have fun and be happy just like any other child. But as amazing as you are, you’re not alone. Many others like you are fighting to make our world more inclusive for all and the WEmbrace Awards celebrates those people. Some of the stories made me smile, some made me cry, but they all have one thing in common: they inspire. You teach us that we can all do something to make Europe a place where everyone can live a full life. And if you can do it, so must we as a community. For my part, I feel the responsibility to live up to your example. You inspire me to work for a European Union where everyone can enjoy the same opportunities and participate fully in society on an equal basis with others”.

Bebe Vio: “A magical evening”

“We are very happy with this first edition of the WEmbrace Awards – he says Baby Vio Grandis at the end of the evening – A truly magical evening that has been able to give us a mix of wonderful emotions, which we may often try to hide but which this evening we were able to express without fear, letting ourselves be carried away by the incredible stories of the WEmbracers. The message we wanted to get across this evening is precisely that of inclusion. We’ve heard 15 stories of really great people who have chosen to get involved and take the time out of their day-to-day lives to help others and we believe it’s truly unbelievable. I can’t wait for next year’s edition to get to know new stories and be part of this great moment of shared emotions once again”. The proceeds from the first edition of WEmbrace Awards were entirely donated to the art4sport association.

The winning stories

Starting from the 15 finalist stories proposed by a stable Observatory for the attention of the Awards Jury, the 5 stories that received recognition as WEmbracer of the 2023 edition yesterday evening were identified. The Jury was composed of prestigious and recognized names in the national and international scene, including: the artist Shiva Ahmadi, the tenor Andrea Bocelli, the artistic director of the Dior women’s collections Maria Grazia Chiuri, the President of CONI Giovanni Malagò, the producer Nicoletta Mantovani, the President of the CIP Luca Pancalli, the philosopher Telmo Pievani, the deputy director of Corriere della Sera Barbara Stefanelli and Bebe Vio Grandis herself.

WE embrace Ourself (individual who, facing a personal journey through his own peculiarity, makes it a value for himself and for others, becoming a source of strength, energy and a point of reference):

– Luca Trapanese, single dad who chooses to adopt a girl with Down syndrome, thus opening up an important starting point for reflection on the issue of foster care and the very concept of family

WEmbrace Others (individual, group of individuals or project which, through tenacity, determination, work and commitment, has managed to ensure that its peculiarities become a recognized social value for a community):

– Mattia Villardita, a young volunteer who with his Spiderman costume tries to bring a smile to hospitalized children, inspired by his personal experience

WEmbrace Sport (individual or group of individuals who, through their sporting activity or business, have managed to communicate, enhance or establish individual peculiarities as a value):

– Nicoletta Tinti, Olympic champion of rhythmic gymnastics who, after suddenly finding herself paraplegic, does not give up and together with her friend Silvia Bertoluzza gives life to a single pas de deux, where she puts the torso and Silvia puts the legs: this is how their In addition company.

WEmbrace Difference (group of people, association or institution that has been able to grasp the peculiarities of others by “adopting” them and enhancing them so that they become unique for the community and a point of reference for others):

– PizzAut, a project born with the aim of building a better world, which can be respectful of the uniqueness, skills and potential of everyone and of the autistic people involved in managing this very special restaurant

Embrace The World (story that contains an inspiring example linked to the peculiarities at an international level):

– Silvia Polleri who brings an example of hope and the possibility of redemption with the establishment of the InGalera restaurant, inside the Bollate prison.