After lengthy deliberation we decided to to put the money AMHS collected for the earthquake victims where we thought it would do the most good-- and in areas that supplement the relief activities of the Italian government. The total amount we collected is $26,813. Of this, as previously reported, $17,169 was raised, virtually single-handed, by Massimo and Sabatino Mazziotti.

The amount we collected has already been disbursed as follows. Half of the funds, or $13,406, was donated to Caritas Diocesana L'Aquila, which is the charitable arm of the Archdioceses of L'Aquila. This organization seeks to meet the most basic needs of the earthquake victms by providing, among other things, food, clothes, medicines, nutritious meals for children, and rental and utilities assistance.

Another $12,406 was donated to the Abruzzo Relief Fund, which NIAF is operating in cooperation with the US Department of State. Basically this fund addresses the educational and human resources needs of the University of L'Aquila and its students. Finally, the remaining $1000 was donated to the C.I.A.O./Abruzzo Earthquake Fund, which is operated by our sister organization in Pittsburgh headed by Joseph D'Andrea who is also a member of AMHS. This particular fund is sponsoring two students from the University of L'Aquila who have transferred to Pittsburgh's Robert Morris University.

A group of AMHS members recently visited the area of L'Aquila hit by the April 2009 earthquake. These photos below were submitted by Lucio D'Andrea.

Click on images below to see enlargements