Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi Foundation

Foundation created in 2007 to fight AIDS

In memory of Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi, the oldest son of Marisa and Alberto Bruni-Tedeschi who died in summer 2006, the Virginio Bruni-Tedeschi Foundation works on educational projects for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Income from sale of some of the furniture from the family home in Castagneto Po is paid to the foundation. On December 5, 2007, a first agreement worth $1.7 million was  signed between the foundation and UNESCO,  in the presence of  Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, her mother and sister, Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, and Cristina Owen-Jones, Goodwill Ambassador to UNESCO for prevention education to fight HIV/AIDS.  Four African countries — Angola, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland — will benefit from this donation. In each country almost 100,000 pupils will have access to programs and to awareness-raising educational material with the aim of increasing their knowledge of the disease and reducing stigmatization of those suffering from the virus. On Saturday, April 11, 2009,  Marisa Borini gave the kick-off for a regatta at Le Lavandou in memory of Virginio, who was a passionate sailor.   Ten Raid 22 catamarans competed  over nine legs of the race.