Vittoria Coffee & Santa Vittoria Mineral Water proudly supported the Chris O’Brien Memorial Dinner “Together for Lifehouse”, which was held in the Great Hall at The University of Sydney. Over $270,000 was raised for Lifehouse at RPA, The Chris O’Brien Cancer Centre. Lifehouse will be a dedicated cancer hospital, designed around the needs of patients and their families. Incorporating the latest research findings with the treatments of patients it will deliver the best possible clinical care and provide hope to cancer patients. It will also offer a holistic care in form of complimentary therapies and support services. The process is expected to be completed early 2010.

Vittoria Coffee is extremely proud to support the 2009 Starlight Five Chefs dinner for another year by supplying Vittoria Coffee and Santa Vittoria for the evening. Held on the 4th June, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel, the dinner is an inspirational culinary experience where some of the country’s top chefs raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. The dinner was a huge success with over $512,000 raised for Starlight on the night.

The chefs this year were Tony Bilson – Bilson’s Restaurant, Peter Evans – Hugos, Justin North – Becasse Restaurant, Carl Middleton – Four Seasons Hotel, Katrina Kanetani – Pier Restaurant.

Vittoria Coffee once again supported the Italian National Ball which was held on 29 May 2009. 400 guests attended and celebrated Italian National Day in style with fine food, wine and of course Vittoria Coffee. Through the support of sponsors and patrons on the evening, more than $25,000 was raised to go towards the establishment of a new centre-based day care for people living with dementia in South West Sydney, enabling Co.As.It. to help enhance the quality for life of some of our senior Italian-Australians.

Vittoria Coffee donated $6,000 to Adrienne & The Misses Bonney Christmas Collection to raise funds for the Oncology Department at The Children’s Hospital as Westmead. All the funds collected have been deposited directly into their special purpose cancer trust fund.

Vittoria Coffee is proud to support the research and clinical care programmes that The Children’s Hospital at Westmead continues to develop in order to reach their goal of curing every child that comes through their doors.

Opera Australia takes safeguarding the future of opera very seriously. From nurturing and developing the finest artists in the country, to reaching as broad an audience as possible and not only because it is vital to maintain a professional opera industry in this country, but because it can enrich the imaginative and emotional lives of us all.

For over 25 years the Patron Program has provided the opportunity for opera lovers to support the national opera company. This patronage helps to:

• Interpret music spanning four centuries
• Operate all year round, with major sessions in Melbourne and Sydney
• Take opera to schools and regional audiences
• Nurture artists and craftspeople of the highest caliber
• Work with local, state-based and international artists and companies

Vittoria Coffee has supported the cause by donating $5,000 to Opera Australia.

On Saturday 10th October 2009 Opera Australia held a gala dinner at The Opera Australia Props & Scenery Store. Over $305,000 was raised on the night, which provides a vital contribution to the Opera Australia’s annual funding. Vittoria Coffee &Santa Vittoria Mineral Water are proud to be once again supporters to Opera Australia.

The Bestest Foundation held a fundraising dinner on Monday May 18, 2009 where all money went directly to the kids. Les Schirato, CEO Vittoria Coffee, supported the cause by attending the dinner and donating money. A total of $420,000 was raised on the night.

Following the tragic bushfires in Victoria, Cantarella Bros donated Vittoria Coffee and Santa Vittoria to the VicRelief Foodbank. Since Sunday 8th February, VicRelief Foodbank have been present as each of the major fire areas distributing food, blankets, bedding etc to the Relief Centre where people were given initial accommodation and assistance.

VicRelief Foodbank is Victoria’s largest, independent, emergency relief resource centre. Through a distribution network of over 600 registered welfare agencies and community organizations, VicRelief Foodbank have provided much needed assistance to thousands of families and individuals in financial crisis or other forms of immediate social hardship.

Cantarella Bros is proud in offer their continued support to the Giant Steps annual golf day where over $65,000 was raised. The day has become the largest single fund raising event after the annual ball on the Giant Steps calendar with all proceeds going towards their educational and therapy centre for children with Autism.

Vittoria Coffee proudly supports Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick as a Silver Patron of the 8th Silver Party held on Thursday 19 February 2009. The Silver Party 2009 was a fantastic success, raising a net profit of $185,000 for the Emergency Department at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

Particularly given the current climate, these much needed funds will make an enormous difference to the thousands of children treated each year by the Emergency Department. The funds raised contribute to improve the care and experiences of the sick children in the Emergency Department.
 
Vittoria Coffee also sponsored the Gold Dinner held in June 2009 by donating $5,000 and a coffee machine as an auction item. Funds raised from that dinner are directed towards a range of programs and services that require urgent funding at The Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick.

Vittoria Coffee continues to support projects that aim to make the lives of cancer patients a little easier, by generously donating to the Cancer Services at Royal North Shore Hospital at the recent Cancer Services Ball.

Cancer Services raised a total of $42,000 on the night to continue their vital support of people and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis and the financial impact this can have.

Movember is an annual charity event that raises money to benefit men’s health, with a focus on prostate cancer and male depression. Held during the month of November, participants register with a clean shaven face, and have the rest of the month to grow and groom their Mo.

Money is raised with donations of support from work colleagues, friends, family and businesses.

Movember concludes at the end of the month with official Gala parties, mo-office and mo-town parties where participants compete for Man of Movember status.

Money raised by Movember is used to raise awareness of men’s health issues, thereby increasing early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. More specifically, money raised is used to fund research into better screening tests, treatments and ultimately finding a cure for prostate cancer, and providing proper information and support to those affected by prostate cancer.

Money raised also goes towards raising awareness about male depression and increasing the information and effective treatment options available. With 2,900 Australian men dying each year from prostate cancer, Vittoria Coffee encourages people to join them in supporting this charitable event.

Cure Cancer Carnivale Ball raises over $200k, which contributes to the $1million already funding 14 cancer research projects nationally.

Dodgem cars, a giant slippery slide, chocolate fountains, huge lolly stalls, roulette and black jack tables, and performances from Australia’s very own Swing King, David Campbell, Burlesque beauty Rachel St James and Latin inspired La Fiesta Sound System ensured this 1950’s Las Vegas inspired Carnivale Ball was one to remember.  

Vittoria Coffee is proud to support this extravagant, glamorous and fun event that promotes the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation in a memorable way and in turn raises much needed funds to support young scientists in their pursuit of breakthrough cancer research.  This is the 6th year that this infamous fundraising event has taken place which was created by four young volunteers in 2002. This years Ball was held at the Australian Technology Park on Saturday 13th September, 2008.

Hosted by Lizzy Lovette and Paul O’Brien, the eagerly waited event was sold out with 700 people attending.  Ticket sales, silent auctions and further donations collectively rose over $200,000 on the night for the Cure Cancer Australian Foundation.

Greenock Uniting Church launched an exciting new community outreach programme earlier this year.  The programme named ‘Connections’ provides a very real and relevant outreach to people of all ages and backgrounds. The venture had been very successful through the generous contributions and support within the wider community.

Connections runs programs including “All sing groups” and “Childrens Storytime” as well as the biggest draw card the Connections Coffee shop famous for Vittoria coffee and home baked cakes.

Sunday 2nd November 2008, a naming celebration is arranged to launch Connections and to thank the many community supporters.

Vittoria Coffee is proud to be associated with this great community project and would encourage you to enjoy a cup of coffee at the café which is open every Wednesday from 10am – 3.30pm.

Bestest is a charity that raises money for kids in needs.  The Bestest Foundation’s core philosophy is to help provide some stability and the opportunity for happier childhood memories for kids in crisis.

Held on May 12th, 2008, the Bestest Gala Dinner is an event that brings together 50 top chefs to prepare and serve their menu to 50 tables of 10.  Chefs included Neil Perry, Mark Best, Guillaume Brahimi and Philip Johnson who are all from restaurants that choose to serve Vittoria Coffee.  Wines from the finest harvests are accompanied with the food and the venue was designed by Alex Perry.  Every cent of the money raised on the night goes to children in need.

Les Schirato, Managing Director of Vittoria Coffee, was proud to be apart of this chartable event and contributed $16,700 to the cause by purchasing a table of 10 and donating money on the night.

Vittoria Coffee is proud to continuously support project two eight two eight. The project has grown dramatically since its inception in 2001. It is exciting to see how much has been achieved and to see the positive effects the project has had on a previously depressed rural community.

Two eight two eight has won several awards and now boasts a cafe, art gallery, craft shop (selling handmade souvenirs & local produce), function centre and a quality catering service. Serving Vittoria coffee, delicious food, movie nights, a secondhand bookshop, library and annual ‘Dinners under the Stars’ all enhance the visitor's experience.

In 2008, the project has grown bigger than anyone ever envisaged and Vittoria continues to assist by donating $40,000 to support the establishment of a commercial kitchen. The commercial kitchen will be used for many purposes; the cafe, catering for functions and events, cookery classes and demonstrations with visiting chefs, and most importantly training for young people, many of whom are indigenous.

It is fantastic to see this small town in rural NSW with a population of 500, develop into a destination where people are now stopping to enjoy what Gulargambone has to offer.

Monday 9th June, Les Schirato, Managing Director Vittoria Coffee was appointed as a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia within the Australian Honours System.

Les has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honors list for his service to the community through philanthropic contributions to health, youth, church and social welfare organisations and to business.

As an industry leader, Les is the Chairman of the Australian Tea & Coffee Association, a member of the World Presidents Organisation, Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australian Institute of Directors and the Australian Marketing Institute.

Always heavily involved in the community, Les was awarded the Paul Harris Medal by the Belrose Rotary club in 1998 for his ongoing help given to Camp Quality children’s cancer charity. 

As a major supporter of the Curran Foundation at St Vincents hospital, Les has donated funds to establish a three year cancer research nursing position as well several pieces of high technology diagnostic equipment for digestive disorders, in addition to a new generation CT scanner for diagnosis of coronary artery and cardiac disease.

Since 1993, Les has donated food and coffee to the kitchen run by Father Steve Sinn at St Canice’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth Bay, also providing funds for the Church’s restoration projects. In addition, supporting of two rural community projects designed to revitalize their towns – Project 2828 at Gulargambone and Robertson CTC.

Les’ passion for helping people saw him provide Neil Martin a former alcoholic and homeless man the money he needed to start his now successful street shoe-shine business in Melbourne through the Salvation Army’s red shield appeal.

Each year Les supports numerous charity events through donations and coffee service including the Starlight Foundation Five Chefs dinner, Sydney Children’s Hospital Gold Ball and Mission Australia’s Bestest dinner. 

The Leukaemia foundation of NSW, The Garvan Institute and the Children’s Cancer Institute receive on going support through donation as does the Coffee Kids charity for rural communities in coffee growing areas who Les supports each year.

This is timely recognition for his wide ranging commitment and contribution to the community.