Chocolates for research: a sweet gesture to support science

Calia Italia and AIRC Foundation together for cancer prevention and research

On Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, the annual event Chocolates for Research made its return. Organized by the AIRC Foundation, the initiative brought Calia Italia’s corporate volunteers to the main squares of Matera and across the Basilicata region, with an impressive 84 municipalities joining the cause.

For a donation of €15, supporters received a 200-gram box of Venchi dark chocolate, a symbol of a concrete commitment to cancer research. A gesture that combines solidarity and well-being: cocoa is a natural source of flavonoids, compounds known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A Shared Commitment for 60 Years

In 2025, the AIRC Foundation celebrates sixty years of activity, reaffirming its role as Italy’s leading nonprofit organization funding independent cancer research, with more than €2.5 billion allocated to scientific projects.

A Bond That Stands the Test of Time

The partnership between Calia Italia and AIRC has deep roots. In 2000, the company received the “AIRC Active Companies Award”, presented to architect Saverio Calia by the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, in recognition of its commitment to promoting information and staff training on cancer prevention.

Today, the Basilicata Committee of the AIRC Foundation, chaired by Saverio Calia and active since 1990, counts over 15,000 donors and more than 70 corporate volunteers, who dedicate their efforts each year to numerous fundraising initiatives.

A Future of Trust and Participation

As the 2025 Chocolates for Research campaign draws to a close, Calia Italia proudly renews its support for the AIRC Foundation, aware that every small gesture can help transform research into treatment.
Sixty years of research, trust, and collective effort mark a legacy of progress, pursuing the shared goal of making cancer treatment ever more effective.