"I primi dieci anni della Fondazione Valter Baldaccini”: the anniversary volume between memory and future

On its eleventh anniversary, on May 7, 2026, at the Teatro San Carlo in Foligno, the Valter Baldaccini Foundation presented the volume, in italian, "I primi dieci anni della Fondazione Valter Baldaccini (2015-2025)" (The first 10 years of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation (2015–2025)), edited by Professor Francesca Picciaia from the Department of Economics of the University of Perugia.

A volume to pause and look ahead

Creating this publication for the Valter Baldaccini Foundation meant more than simply telling a story. It represented an opportunity to pause, to look at the steps that have been taken, to recognize the relationships and connections built over time, and above all, to look toward the future and ask what responsibilities these first ten years of projects and activities entrust to all of us.

The idea for this ten-year anniversary volume was born with two objectives:

• To highlight the concrete impact of our social projects in the communities where we operate
• To ensure transparency in how we act and how the funds collected over the years have been used

 
The roots: the thought of Valter Baldaccini

To tell the story of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation, we began from our origins. The Foundation was established to continue the values, vision, and actions of Valter Baldaccini — an enlightened entrepreneur who combined work and social responsibility, Christian faith, professional commitment, and sensitivity toward the most vulnerable.

From his story, also told in the documentary “Valter Baldaccini, la vita come esempio”, recently made available on the RaiPlay platform, it emerges clearly that, for Valter, being a businessman could not be separated from being a human being. For him, the creation of economic value could never be an end, but rather an opportunity for growth, solidarity, and human development.

For this reason, one of his quotations opens each chapter of the Foundation’s ten-year volume, because every action carried out by the Foundation is closely linked to his words — starting from the phrase that guides and inspires our work every day: “Together we have sown a great seed that will grow into a great plant”. These words are not just a beginning, but a promise — a responsibility tied to the possibility of fostering growth through concrete commitment.

 The operating model: building partnerships to maximize social impact

 One of the defining features of the Valter Baldaccini Foundation is its network-based approach. From the very beginning, the Foundation chose partnership as its operating method to maximize the social impact of its projects, based on:

• Collaboration with local organizations in the various territories where it operates
• Listening to the real needs of people
• Providing support and guidance, rather than mere assistance, to those in greatest difficulty

 
This approach has made it possible to maximize the social impact of projects carried out over the decade, activating concrete initiatives in Foligno and across Umbria, as well as in more distant contexts such as Africa, Kosovo, Ukraine, and the United States. Through partnerships, we build relationships based on trust and transparency, enabling us to grow together and amplify the effectiveness of the implemented projects .

Ten years of projects: the numbers behind the social impact

In ten years of activity, the Valter Baldaccini Foundation has raised donations totaling over €1.8 million and allocated more than €1 million to social projects. These resources have supported various initiatives across three main areas: family, education, and employment — all of which are also described in the volume through the testimonies of project participants.

The Foundation’s commitment also includes preserving and sharing the story of Valter Baldaccini’s life. For this reason, part of the resources has been used to produce publications and promote activities that preserve and spread his legacy.

Looking to the future

From 2015 to today, the Valter Baldaccini Foundation has grown and evolved, just as the needs and expectations of the community and individuals have changed. Today, the Foundation looks to the future through broader forms of participation — both internal and external — while continuing to draw inspiration from Valter Baldaccini’s values and actions.

“What we have created” said President Beatrice Baldaccini during the presentation event, “is not just a book celebrating ten years, but a method, a shared story, and a tool for awareness. In these first ten years, my father has always been by our side and has inspired us in moments of decision. We look to the future with a sense of responsibility and a desire to continue building a better future on the solid foundations we have developed over these first ten years. Because solidarity is not a one-time gesture, but a form of social construction”.

A heartfelt thanks to the speakers, moderated by Maria Tripepi, Director of Gazzetta di Foligno, who shared insights about the Foundation during the presentation:

• Marco Moschini, Director of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Perugia and member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
• Don Marco Briziarelli, Director of Caritas Perugia and Città della Pieve, partner in the Family and Work social inclusion project
• Annachiara Papa from the social cooperative La Tenda, one of the educators in the With Families project
• Laura La Ficara, a mother involved in the "With the Families" project who shared her personal experience
• Francesca Picciaia, Professor at the Department of Economics of the University of Perugia and editor of the publication

Download and read the ten-year anniversary volume (in italian)