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The foundation was established by Manuele D’Oppido and Vanessa Bozzacchi, inspired by the story of Leone, which led them to recognize the gaps and deficiencies in support for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal is to create appropriate and functional spaces for learning and enjoyment for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular attention to the autism spectrum, and to support their families.
About Us
Genitori, operatori del settore, professionisti del mondo della comunicazione e altro, persone che hanno vissuto sulla propria pelle alcune esperienze ed altre che hanno solo il desiderio di sapere, imparare ed aiutare. Accomunati tutti dalla volontà di realizzare una realtà funzionale , ludica e necessaria, e di sensibilizzare le persone sulla tematica della diversità, per integrare nella società e nel “sociale” bambini, ragazzi e le loro famiglie.
Vanessa - Vice President
I am Leone's mother. I lived through the "this can't happen to me" experience. I was quickly swept into a whirlwind, an unknown and frightening world, because what you don’t know scares you. Little by little, with strength and pain, but also a great desire to learn and do more, I dug deep and met people who showed me the light—the kind of light that helps you believe in your child, to want more for him and for all the children like him. I met Manuele almost four years ago, now my husband—a remarkable man who had the strength and desire to discover Leone’s world. He slipped with us into the difficulties and pain of very tough years, becoming my strength and the strength of my son, until we decided to create a foundation.
Manuele - President
For the past four years, my life has been filled by a child who doesn’t speak, who is easily distracted, and at first, wouldn’t look me in the eyes. But over time, with the only universal language, Love, he has made my life wonderful and filled my heart with purity. We chose each other. Today, I can’t imagine a life without Leone. One of my greatest wishes is to give a chance to those who were born without one, to see children grow into adults without the burden of looks and judgment. My greatest joy is knowing that when my time comes to an end, Leone will live in a place designed for him. ONE OF MY GREATEST WISHES TODAY IS TO IMAGINE MY SON SAFE IN A TOMORROW WHERE I WON'T BE THERE. TO IMAGINE HIM CAPABLE, INDEPENDENT, ORGANIZED, BUT ABOVE ALL INTEGRATED AND UNDERSTOOD BY A WORLD THAT IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM CANNOT HELP BUT KNOW AND ACCEPT DIVERSITY.
BOD
Sara Sozzani Maino
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FONDAZIONE SOZZANI. SHE COLLABORATES WITH MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND IS A MEMBER OF SEVERAL BOARDS THAT WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE PLANET. SHE IS PART OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE CIRCULAR FASHION SUMMIT, SUPPORTING THE UNITED NATIONS 2030 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. TODAY, SHE IS A CREATIVE CONSULTANT FOR CNCC (CONDÉ NAST COMMERCIAL CREATIVE), WHERE SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONCEPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-PLATFORM PROJECTS FOR CONDÉ NAST ITALIA BRANDS. SHE FOUNDED VOGUE TALENTS WITH FRANCA SOZZANI IN 2009. VOGUE TALENTS WAS A PROJECT AND GLOBAL NETWORK SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT CREATIVE TALENTS. IN COLLABORATION WITH ALTAROMA, SINCE 2005 SHE HAS CURATED THE “WHO IS ON NEXT?” CONTEST IN SUPPORT OF MADE IN ITALY. SHE REGULARLY PARTICIPATES AS A JUDGE AND CONSULTANT IN VARIOUS FASHION COMPETITIONS, INCLUDING THE LVMH PRIZE, WOOLMARK PRIZE, FASHION TRUST ARABIA, INTERNATIONAL TALENT SUPPORT (ITS), AND MANY OTHERS. SINCE SEPTEMBER 2018, SHE HAS BEEN THE INTERNATIONAL BRAND AMBASSADOR OF THE CAMERA NAZIONALE DELLA MODA ITALIANA, SUPPORTING THE NEW GENERATION OF DESIGNERS. SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF CAMERA FASHION TRUST, FOUNDED IN 2018 TO SUPPORT MADE IN ITALY DESIGNERS. IN 2019, SHE LAUNCHED “A NEW AWARENESS,” A PROJECT AIMED AT FOSTERING GREATER CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY AMONG YOUNGER GENERATIONS. IN MAY 2021, SHE RECEIVED THE POSITIVE CHANGE AWARD FROM MONTE CARLO FASHION WEEK. IN 2023, SHE WAS ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS OF THE DOCUMENTARY JUNK ARMADI PIENI, A SIX-EPISODE DOCUSERIES THAT SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE CONTEMPORARY IMPACT OF THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY THROUGH THE STORIES AND IMAGES OF THE PEOPLE AND ECOSYSTEMS MOST AFFECTED. THE HOST AND CO-AUTHOR IS MATTEO WARD, ENTREPRENEUR AND ACTIVIST, WHO OVERSAW THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE SERIES, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY OLMO PARENTI AND MATTEO KEFFER.
INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS & FUNDRAISING
Federica De Blasi
PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER TWENTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, FUNDRAISING, AND INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS. SHE HAS WORKED WITH PUBLIC BODIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, HOLDING RESPONSIBLE ROLES IN CULTURAL AND SOCIAL PROJECTS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RELEVANCE. SHE FOUNDED AND MANAGED FOR TEN YEARS A COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY SPECIALIZING IN THE DESIGN OF CULTURAL EVENTS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. TODAY, SHE ALSO SERVES AS HEAD OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING STRATEGY AT SMART CONSULTING GROUP, A LEADING COMPANY IN AUDIOVISUAL CONSULTING, WHERE SHE DEFINES AND COORDINATES COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES AND SUPPORTS MANAGEMENT IN INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS. AT FONDAZIONE MENTE, SHE IS IN CHARGE OF FUNDRAISING AND INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS, WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR THE FOUNDATION, CONSOLIDATING DIALOGUE WITH PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS, AND BUILDING ALLIANCES CAPABLE OF GENERATING VALUE OVER TIME. “I CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS, BUILD VISIONS, AND TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO PROJECTS THAT CREATE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL VALUE.”
Objectives
The Foundation has civic, therapeutic, recreational, and inclusive objectives,
promoting initiatives aimed at providing social and healthcare assistance to minors and adolescents affected by autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, with the goal of fostering, developing, and implementing better treatment and care systems.
The Mente Foundation was born with many ambitious projects at its heart, with the primary objective of creating a recreational-therapeutic facility that will assist its users daily through traditional, playful, and sports therapies, as well as workshops (art, cooking, gardening...) also with the aim of structuring the days of its users and giving their families some personal free time.
It focuses on a "special user base," aiming at education, autonomy, and social integration through assisted therapies and education, with the help of animals, agricultural activities, and sensory exercises, integrating ABA-VB principles, cognitive enhancement, socio-communicative development, and social skills training.
It will also host specific moments, such as workshops and dining experiences, where children can share activities and happy moments with differently-abled children.
Thus, the project A(i)uTiAmo was born.
