Under the Call for Europe 2020 initiative, UniCredit Foundation extended support worth of € 30,000 to three charity projects by Russian foundations.

In December 2020, UniCredit Foundation launched the second "Call for Europe" initiative with the aim to identify and support social projects helping children in the different European countries where UniCredit operates outside of Italy. UniCredit Foundation granted 360,000 euros to support 48 projects across 12 UniCredit countries.

Maurizio Beretta, Chairman of the UniCredit Foundation, commented: "The Call for Europe initiative allows us to continue to raise awareness of children's needs in our territories across Europe further encouraging all our local banks to actively monitor and engage with relevant solidarity projects in their communities. This is in line with our shared goal of supporting the needs of all the local communities where we operate and constantly working to generate a positive social impact in our countries."

The list of Russian grant-winners includes Charity Foundation for helping patients with cystic fibrosis “In the Name of Life”, Charity Foundation “AiF. Kind Heart” and Hospice Charity Foundation “Vera”.

The “Ambulance” project of the Charity Foundation “In the Name of Life” received a grant of € 11,000. The Foundation is planning to use the grant to purchase vital expensive medicines for the wards of the foundation — disabled children under 18 suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Yet another grant of € 10,000 was awarded to the “Pulmonology” project, which is implemented by the Charity Foundation “AiF. Kind Heart”. Over the course of the project, the Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics named after Academician Yuri Veltischev will carry out genetic analyzes of modern methods of molecular diagnostics (full exome sequencing) for children with severe pulmonological diseases. It will allow to choose an individual, more accurate and effective therapy for them, and to predict the further course of the disease.

The “Rescue Kit” project of the Hospice Charity Fund “Vera” received a grant of € 9,000. This long-term project was also one of the winners of the Call for Europe initiative in 2020. The Foundation supports families with incurable children all over Russia. “Rescue Kit” is the first thing that families with seriously ill children receive when they join the foundation's ongoing support program. 20 families with such children are supposed to receive medical monitoring and first-aid apparatuses for respiratory problems. The set comprises a pulse oximeter for continuous pulse and blood saturation tracking, respiratory tract cleaning aspirator, and Ambu-bag for temporary artificial ventilation along with the consumables for this equipment.

About UniCredit Foundation

UniCredit Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 2003 in order to contribute to the development of solidarity and philanthropy in the communities and regions where it operates, primarily in the geographical areas in which UniCredit is present. Through the transfer of financial resources and management skills typical of the company, UniCredit Foundation supports projects for significant social impact and innovation, by local non-profits.