HOW WE'RE FIGHTING COVID-19
Watch our First Virtual Town Hall to Learn More About our Reopening
On Wednesday, May 20, Villa Charities hosted our first virtual town hall to share updates and answer questions about how our operations will be modified upon the reopening of our on-site operations, to follow the guidelines stipulated by the provincial government. We were happy to connect with the Villa Charities community and thank everyone who participated in the virtual meeting. You can watch a video replay of the first virtual town hall session now to learn more about how we have been preparing for the past several weeks to welcome everyone back to a safer and healthier environment. If you missed the chance to participate in this session, we will be hosting a second virtual town hall meeting soon via the GoToMeeting platform. Please stay tuned for more information.

Your Donation, DOUBLED During Italian Heritage Month
As Ontario businesses begin to reopen, we want you to know that Villa Charities remains committed to the well-being and safety of our seniors. Our fight against COVID-19 is not over and we need your help now more than ever. In honour of Italian Heritage Month, donations made throughout June to support COVID-19 Response Initiatives will be matched dollar-for-dollar by members of the Villa Charities Foundation Board of Directors. That means your contribution and the impact of your donation will go twice as far to support COVID-19 response initiatives. Donate today!

New Food Partners Join Villa Charities to Provide Food Items for our Seniors
Villa Charities continues to support the residents at our independent seniors’ apartments during the COVID-19 public health crisis with weekly food deliveries of pre-packaged meals and grocery staples. We are happy to announce that additional food companies have come on board to help us with this initiative: Lady York Foods has donated an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, Wholesome Kids Catering has donated banana bites and John Vince Foods has donated hard candies. We would like to thank all the companies who have partnered with us to date and helped to put a smile on our seniors’ faces with their generous contributions.
Show Your Support for our Long-Term Care Workers on our Virtual Tribute Wall
To shine a light on the extraordinary efforts and unwavering commitment of the front line health care workers and support staff battling the COVID-19 pandemic at our affiliate Long-Term Care Homes, Villa Charities has launched a virtual tribute wall that will display the messages of gratitude we have received from family members and others in the community. If you’d like to send a message of support for either long-term care home to be included on our virtual wall, please email  info@villacharities.com  or post a message on our  Facebook  ,  Twitter  or  Instagram  page.

Villa Charities Commemorates Seniors' Month in Ontario
June is Seniors’ Month in Ontario, when we celebrate and acknowledge the contributions seniors make to our communities, and the lives they have impacted – across generations. Now more than ever, we are committed to supporting the seniors in the Villa Charities community and recognize the efforts of everyone who is helping to keep them safe and healthy. 
Support Villa Colombo Vaughan with the "Avanti Insieme Fund"
For years, fundraising has been the cornerstone of Villa Colombo Vaughan’s existence and a reflection of the generosity and commitment of the community. The Villa Colombo Vaughan, “Avanti Insieme Fund“ will support our staff as they continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to care for and protect the most vulnerable citizens in our community, our seniors. Every member of the Villa Colombo Vaughan team has responded to the COVID-19 crisis with great professionalism, courage and heroism. Please consider donating to support the heroes of Villa Colombo Vaughan during these challenging times.

Seniors’ Outdoor Concerts and Fitness Classes Continue
Villa Charities will continue with weekly outdoor activities for the seniors’ apartments residents to enjoy from the safety and comfort of their homes. We are happy to present more weekly Serenata Al Fresco outdoor performances, with Italian Canadian singer Andrea Ramolo at Caboto Terrace and Casa Del Zotto on Friday, May 29. The next outdoor ZUMBA ® classes will be held on Tuesday, June 2.

OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Celebrate Italian Heritage Month with New Video Series
June is Italian Heritage Month! In recognition of this annual celebration, we are proud to present “My Secret Venice with Sebastiano Bazzichetto,” a new four-part video series that will take viewers on a cultural and visual journey to explore secret spots in Venice. Travel to grand Venetian houses, museums, and lesser-known enchanting places of Venice that will be sure to leave you spellbound. The first video will be available to watch on Thursday, June 4 – don’t miss it!

Make Classic Italian Recipes in Online "Learn Italian By Doing" Series
Sign up for our online series “ Domenica in Cucina - Learn Italian by Doing from Angelita’s Kitchen” to learn new Italian vocabulary, all while preparing easy-to-follow, classic Italian recipes. The next session will be held on Sunday, May 31, when we will be making Ragù. Contact us today to book your spot – limited spaces available!

Enjoy Readings of “Afternoons in May” and “The Exile” by Pier Giorgio Di Cicco
Born in Arezzo, Italy, Pier Giorgio Di Cicco served as the City of Toronto’s Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2009. He has written 13 books of poetry, and his prose focuses on the Italian Diaspora in North America, family conflict, spiritual identity and global problems. Join DopoLavoro Teatrale actresses Danya Buonastella and Maddalena Vallecchi Williams for video poetry readings of “Afternoons in May” and “The Exile” by Laureate Pier Giorgio Di Cicco. Stay tuned for the final video poetry reading in the series “We Ran Together in the Rain,” available on Friday, May 29.

Explore Italian History in the GTA in “Five Minutes of Italian Canadiana” Video Series
Join Professor Matteo Brera for “ Pillole di storia Italo-Canadese – Five Minutes of Italian Canadiana”, a series of short video clips that highlight the important moments in the history of Italian presence in the GTA. The sixth episode in the series discusses “ Campioni del Mondo! Toronto Italians and the World Cup.”

Pump Up Your Workout with our Exercise Playlist on Spotify
Elevate your next workout session with our new Villa Charities “Fit from Home” Exercise Playlist on Spotify! Curated by the Villa Charities team, this high-energy playlist features a selection of upbeat songs to get you motivated and stay fit from home, with hits from Kygo, Loud Luxury, Martin Garrix and more. Listen now and get moving!

Apply for the Villa Charities Scholarship Program Before June 30
There’s only one month left to apply for our national scholarship program for post-secondary undergraduate and graduate students! The Villa Charities Scholarship Program is available to students of all backgrounds and faiths, who believe in and will help further Villa Charities’ mission to enrich lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Outdoor Tennis Courts Now Open at the Columbus Centre
We are happy to announce that with the provincial government’s recent announcement to reopen certain outdoor sports activities, the Columbus Centre Athletic Club has now opened the three outdoor tennis courts for member use, with strict guidelines. Hours of operation are Monday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm. Any current Athletic Club members who are interested in reserving a tennis court must email fitness@villacharities.com , and you will be provided with the necessary login information to complete your booking. Visit our website for more information on tennis court bookings and for a complete list of rules and regulations.

Build Muscle Strength with our Latest Home Workout Videos
Break a sweat with the Columbus Centre Athletic Club Home Workout Videos! The latest workout video includes Bent Over Row, Braced Fall Away, Pull Overs, Slide to Side Push Ups, Overhead Triceps Extensions and Crunches. Please watch the video and then follow along with the workout description on our website. Try Home Workout #9 now!