Dr Lydia Abela has visited Piscopo Gardens in Burmarrad on 9 June 2021 and commended the centre’s customers who are donating money to the Superhero Campaign. Now in its third month, the campaign is a collaboration between Piscopo Gardens and the Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta and is raising funds for medical research in areas that primarily affect children. Customers are encouraged to add a small donation to their bill at cash point which will go towards the campaign. In return, Piscopo Gardens are pledging to match all the donations, thus doubling the impact of the campaign.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Abela praised the initiative and stressed that thanks to research, we have solutions for so many diseases, including COVID-19 which has hit us so hard. ‘Piscopo Gardens have set an example which should be followed by other private operators so that we can offer a better future for our society. The involvement of the public, and of the private sector in raising funds for research shows that we have a caring community, something to be proud of.’
Ms Vinny Piscopo, director of Piscopo Gardens said that when the RIDT approached her with the idea, it was a no brainer, and they accepted because of the great cause behind it. ‘Children are our future. We have an obligation to provide them with the best quality of life possible.’ The campaign was launched at the end of March and will run till the end of June.
Also present for the visit was Mr Wilfred Kenely, CEO of the RIDT who thanked Piscopo Gardens for accepting to participate in the Superhero Campaign. ‘This is a refreshing example of Corporate Social Responsibility which is helping us raise the much needed funds for research at the University of Malta. It is so encouraging to see the community responding to our appeal.’
The RIDT was established in 2011 and it is intended to attract funds from private and corporate bodies to be used to maximise and exploit the research portfolio at the University of Malta, and to foster the commercial exploitation of research.