On Sunday 20 October on the occasion of Missionary Day, the sporting event Us Aquila for Africa celebrates 40 years of activity in favor of the missions.
In 40 years, over 700,000 euros have been collected and a hundred crates of various materials (healthcare, school, agricultural) have been shipped via container. Many people went on missions to learn about and carry out some service.
To joyfully celebrate this important anniversary in Luzzara we begin with Mass at 11 am in San Giorgio presided over by Don Emanuele Benatti.
Followed by the solidarity lunch at 12.30 in the civic hall – auser: reservations 339-2949926)
U.s. Aquila for Africa
US Aquila for Africa was born almost for fun in the spring of 1985, when some managers
of the Aquila Sports Union of Luzzara thought of organizing a quadrangular basketball tournament for
Promotion and Serie D teams, at the end of the competitive season, and to use the proceeds for
support Don Emanuele Benatti, a missionary from Luzzare who has been working in Madagascar for years.
The formula soon became fixed: three visiting teams and the local US Aquila team, reinforced by
several top-class players. From the Promotion and Serie D teams we moved on to the best of basketball
minor in the province (then Correggio and Novellara, between series B and C) and in the surrounding areas (Anzola, Fidenza,
Cremona), up to Serie A teams (Fortitudo Bologna, Glaxo Verona, Pallacanestro Reggiana and Kleenex
Pistoia).
In 1991, Kobe Bryant’s father, Joe, who played for Pallacanestro Reggiana, was a guest on Us
Eagle for Africa. Hence the passing of the famous t-shirt from father to son.
Starting from 1994, volleyball was introduced in addition to basketball, hosting a match every year
women’s Serie A, always with the usual formula of local training “reinforced” by athletes from
superior category, against a Serie A team.
In 1997 the event moved from the gym
to the central square of Luzzara, now Piazza Iscaro, with a field and stands set up by volunteers, for
underline even more that “for Africa” is an event of the country, involved at a sporting, cultural,
humanitarian.
In fact, over the years the Italian Basketball Cup finals have also been held
Wheelchair, All Star Game of Volleyball and Local Basketball, Youth Basketball Tournaments; all with the motto
“together for Madagascar”, always with Don Emanuele, inspirer and beneficiary in the missionary field.
Basically, over the years the formula has changed, but the spirit has remained the same: passion for it
sport, spirit of volunteering, free generosity and solidarity.
Since Don Emanuele returned from Madagascar (2001), thanks to his contacts and knowledge, the “for
Africa” has expanded the destination of the offers to various parts of the world.
With your help, sponsors and supporting friends, we continue to collect and allocate various materials and monetary contributions in Madagascar, Congo, Ecuador, Rwanda, Amazonia, Guinea, Angola, Peru, Brazil, to the inclusive basketball project for disabled children at Augusto per la Vita Association, the Jaima Sahrawi Association (Saharawi refugee camps), the Jute Thread Association (Bangladesh), the South calls North Association (Sierra Leone), Diocesan Missionary Centre.
Over the course of these 40 years, over 100 cases of various materials have been shipped via containers and the offers of 500 thousand lire in 1985 have grown to exceed, for years, 30 thousand euros. A significant decline, but not a setback, was caused by Covid.
If you want to go back up, you need to start walking again…
We are in direct contact with the project leaders and we know that the situation has been made more difficult
due to the lack of resources, means and organizational possibilities, due to global emergencies.
We invite you to follow us on the Facebook and Instagram pages, dedicated to initiatives, communications and offers
sponsor.
The social platforms that have replaced the traditional paper “Aquilotto” are the Fcebook and Instagram page: https://m.facebook.com/usaquilaforafrica
Ig: usaquilaforafrica
We remind you of the references for your offers:
– PRIVATE LEASING account – IBAN: IT 75 A 03417 12800 CC0010000158 payable to US AQUILA reason
OFFER FOR US AQUILA FOR AFRICA
In thanking you for the closeness you continue to show us, we wish you all the best, in the hope of
still have you by our side
The managers of “US Aquila for Africa”
