This is my Milano –
Christmas Edition 2023

Piazza San Babila, recently revitalized, stands as a symbol of a city undergoing rebirth and renewal in diverse neighborhoods, each with its unique identity. Dils actively champions this heritage through Give Back initiatives, now consolidated under the “This is my Milano” project. In 2023 alone, the initiative engaged with over 30 Milanese associations, laying the foundation for even greater community support in the future.

Dils’ Christmas 2023 has revolved around community support. A 13-meter Christmas tree in Piazza San Babila was adorned, accompanied by a 25×12-meter ice skating rink, captured in an enchanting illustration by renowned artist Carlo Stanga. The rink has been opened to the public until January 7, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, and until 9:00 pm on Saturdays. All proceeds has been entirely donated to three city projects supported by nonprofit organizations. The projects include Casa Cuore for children by Mission Bambini ETS, in collaboration with ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda. This project aims to provide accommodation for families with children receiving treatment at the Milanese hospital. The Cooperativa Martinengo, operating in the Corvetto neighborhood, will benefit from the purchase of a car dedicated to home-based healthcare, educational, and social services. In Spazio Baroni85, led by ActionAid Italia and other associations, a rehearsal space and recording studio will be created for the youth of the neighborhood. Those wishing to support these charitable initiatives can make donations also through an online fundraising platform.

Discover the social projects

La Casa Cuore di Bimbi – Mission Bambini ETS is a home that will be built in collaboration with ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda to host families of hospitalized children. With the “Vengo a Casa Tua” project, a car will be purchased for home health, educational, and social services for Martinengo Cooperative, which operates in the Corvetto district. At Spazio Baroni85, a project managed by a group of associations that are led by ActionAid Italia, a rehearsal room and a recording studio will be created for the young people of the neighborhood that will facilitate creative and artistic experimentation. Those who wish to support these charity initiatives, can also make donations through the online fundraising platform.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Piazza San Babila

The tree lighting event, for the first time in Piazza San Babila, took place on December 6th, at 6:30 pm in the presence of local authorities and the CEO and founder of Dils, Giuseppe Amitrano. The athletes belonging to the Milanese synchronized skating school Ladybirds performed to the music of The Nutcracker, followed by a performance by the Rejoice Gospel Choir.

Every evening until December 23rd, the award-winning skaters of the Milanese schools Ladybirds and Hot Shivers performed live synchronized skating shows at 7pm.

Giuseppe Amitrano, CEO and founder of Dils, stated: “For the third consecutive year, we continue our support for the city of Milan in celebrating Christmas. After the Piazza Duomo tree in 2021 and eight installations in eight neighborhoods in 2022, this year, in addition to three Dils-signed Christmas trees in the city, we have created the enchanting ice-skating rink in Piazza San Babila. It’s a source of pride for us to contribute to making this time of year special, especially with initiatives supporting the community. Through the fundraising linked to the ice-skating rink, we will promote three interventions dedicated to the youth. ‘This is my Milano – Christmas Edition’ is part of the Give Back program, where Dils aims to explore a new business approach based on social responsibility. The Milanese associative fabric represents an extraordinary resource for the city, and we hope that an increasing number of companies consider supporting nonprofit entities as a strategic factor in creating value through their activities.”

Fundraising

The fundraising for the project This is my Milano – Christmas Edition 2023 concluded on January 7, 2024, with the dismantling of the ice skating rink. The proceeds from the activity of the rink, amounting to 44,000 euros, were entirely donated to the three associations Mission Bambini ETS, ActionAid Italia, and Cooperativa Martinengo.