SHRO Gala Dinner 2025 Raises €200,000 to Advance Cancer Research

Vico Equense, June 25, 2025 — There is an Italy that believes in science, solidarity, and the future of young researchers. This spirit was fully embodied at the SHRO Gala Dinner 2025, where scientists, entrepreneurs, institutions and citizens came together in support of a shared mission: to accelerate cancer research. The evening resulted in an extraordinary outcome €200,000 raised to fund scientific research and education across Italy and the United States.

The Gala celebrated six distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to the public good across academic, entrepreneurial, and institutional fields. Honorees included Francesco Calcara, President & CEO of Hyundai Italy; Raffaele De Nigris, CEO of De Nigris Group; Marco Marchi, Founder and President of Liu Jo; and Francesco Saverio Mennini, Director General of Planning at the Italian Ministry of Health. Special video messages were sent by Minister Adolfo Urso (Enterprises and Made in Italy) and Senator Francesco Zaffini, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Labor, both praising the event’s scientific and social significance. The award presented to the honorees was designed by the renowned Neapolitan artist Lello Esposito, whose work is deeply rooted in the cultural identity of Naples.

“In a time when research needs not only funding but collective trust, this evening sent a powerful message,” said Professor Antonio Giordano, President and Founder of SHRO.
“We are grateful to every single person who contributed to building a real bridge between science and hope. Our mission continues, and this support allows us to pursue it with even greater determination.”

The success of the Gala was made possible thanks to the generous support of more than thirty business sponsors and partners, including Ble & Associates, Innovaway, Promoitalia, De Clemente Conserve, Rigenera, EDM, Global Trading, Autosantoro, Fondazione Scudieri, Jadea, Petrone Group, Atìda Efarma, Mita, Claps – Laboratori Penisola Sorrentina, Tenuta Fontana, Bourelly Group, DLC, Zeus, Kiton, Cosmo, Smeraldina, ScegliPrima!, and Cilento 1780. Media partners included Canale 21, Pippo by Capri, and Magazine Informare.

The evening also highlighted the excellence of Southern Italian cuisine, with gourmet seafood by Schicchitano, artisanal pizza by Vincenzo Capuano, and alcohol-free gin by Vesuvius, all of whom received heartfelt thanks from the SHRO team.

“The Gala Dinner is more than a fundraising event,” emphasized Dr. Giancarlo Arra, SHRO Vice President.
“Thanks to the involvement of over thirty businesses, we raised €200,000 to activate new research scholarships and support ongoing scientific projects at our laboratories in Philadelphia, Naples, Siena, and our newly established SHRO center in Candiolo, Turin. I personally thank all my fellow entrepreneurs who chose to step forward and support a model of research that is independent, transparent, and reinvests over 90% of its resources directly into laboratory work.”

Founded and led by Professor Antonio Giordano and Dr. Giancarlo Arra, the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) is a non-profit scientific institution with headquarters in Philadelphia, Naples, Siena, and Turin, dedicated to advancing cancer research and medical innovation. The 2025 Gala strengthened SHRO’s role as a transatlantic bridge between Italy and the United States, united in service of life.

For more information or to support SHRO’s mission:
🌐 www.shro.org
📩 [email protected]