La Biomedical University Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting the development ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, promoted the second edition of the International Award for Leadership and Benevolence, l'event in memory of Joaquín Navarro-Valls, doctor and journalist, spokesperson for the Pope Giovanni Paul II and director of the Holy See Press Office for 22 years, from 1984 to 2006, as well as founder of the Foundation together with Paolo Arullani. Lina Tombolato Doris for the Senior category and Nicolò Govoni for the Junior category they are the winners of the Award whose awards ceremony took place in the Sala della Protomoteca of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, in the presence of numerous authoritative guests.
"The objective of the Award is to identify and enhance personalities of great depth who embody the values of leadership and benevolence in their commitment - has ofchiarato the President of the Biomedical University Foundation, Alessandro Pernigo - Lina Tombolato Doris and Nicolò Govoni, by placing their skills and dedication at the service of development and solidarity projects, in line with what the life of Joaquín Navarro-Valls has taught us, have contributed to the improvement of society and represent positive role models to be inspired by."
The award initiative represents an opportunity for recognition for the winners and a moment of reflection onimportance of exercising ethical and cultural values in contemporary society with the aim of promoting the "Good of the person". The Award aims to contribute to the education of young students through Scholarship Fund dell 'Università campus Bio-Medico di Roma named after Navarro-Valls. In 2023, funds were raised to award 10 scholarships to fully cover the fee for students enrolled in different degree courses in the 2024/2025 academic year: Medicine and Surgery 'Medtech', Nursing Science, Intelligent Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering for Sustainable Development e Food Science and Technology and Food Design.
Lina Tombolato Doris, born in the province of Padua in 1947, inaugurates the in 2022 Ennio Doris Foundation in memory of her husband who passed away the previous year. She exercised her Leadership by working together with her husband to bring humanity to the family activities, promoting Benevolence for the good of the human person. There are numerous projects in favor of children in disadvantaged conditions, scholarships for
university and technical training provided to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as activities to support families and the elderly, with the desire to accompany people in need. His generosity and solidarity have inspired many, creating a positive and lasting impact in the communities served. "Ennio and I have spent a whole life together, we have come a long way and shared an extraordinary journey. We started very young from the poorest Veneto region after the Second World War, but with enormous wealth in terms of humanity, altruism, mutual help and , just as the motivation for your prestigious award reports, of such benevolence - has ofchiarato Lina Tombolato Doris al
awarding of the Prize - When life is so generous you have to live it with a strong sense of gratitude, of sharing, of giving back, of helping those who haven't been as fortunate. In conclusion, I would like to address a few words to young people, tell them to dream, to look to the future with hope and confidence, and to plan for tomorrow without getting lost in discouragement or in the face of difficulties that are an integral part of life".
Nicolò Govoni, born in 1993, is President and CEO of the Still I Rise Association, founded in 2018 on the island of Samos in Greece, with the aim of opening Emergency Schools and International Schools for refugee and vulnerable children. The ONLUS today operates in Syria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Colombia and India. Nominated in 2020 for the Nobel Peace Prize, Nicolò Govoni has demonstrated generosity and human consistency over time in his commitment to the issues of education and
support for children and adolescents in vulnerable situations. "I am grateful and deeply honored to receive the Joaquìn Navarro-Valls International Award for Leadership and Benevolence. Every day with Still I Rise we do our best to contribute to a better and more equitable tomorrow: this
The award is further encouragement to continue on this path" has ofchiarato Govoni receiving the Award.
The candidates were proposed by Scientific Committee of the Award da Federico Eichberg, Matteo Colaninno, Giuseppe Cornetto Bourlot, Stefano Lucchini e Luisa Todini.
La Jury which awarded the Prize to the winners is composed of President of the Biomedical University Foundation, Alessandro Pernigo and Paolo Arullani, Ferruccio De Bortoli, Bianca Maria Farina, Gianni Letta e Lucia Vedani.