Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
The Italian American Women’s Club of Northwest Indiana pulled out all the stops for its first-ever Cuori Aperti (Open Hearts) Award.
Members sold tickets and home-baked desserts, secured sponsorships, and organized raffles and auctions on the road to raising $10,000 to be bestowed on a local charity.
Non-profit organizations nominated by IAWC members made presentations at a June meeting, with members voting to select the recipient.
The $10,000 award went to top vote-getter Safe Haven Baby Boxes. The award was presented on Sept. 9.
“The Cuori Aperti Award reflects the club’s commitment to Italian heritage, fellowship and giving back to the community,” says club president Gina Geiss
Based in Woodburn, Indiana, Safe Haven allows parents in crisis to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn infant that they feel unable to raise.
Reminiscent of the ruote dei trovatelli (“foundling wheels”) in Italy, the organization’s baby boxes are temperature-controlled, secure devices installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals.
Parents place the newborn in padded bassinet and close the exterior door, which locks, sounding an alarm that notifies emergency personnel, who respond within minutes.
The award was accepted by Mariah Betz, assistant project coordinator for Safe Haven. Betz commented that the name of the award, Open Hearts, reflects the values of generosity, connection and compassion shared by her organization.
