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The first Matilde Vicenzi Award for Culture will be presented on Friday, September 26 at the Teatro Nuovo.

Four women, four extraordinary stories united by the courage to make a difference. To mark its 120th anniversary, the Vicenzi Group is paying tribute to its founder with the “Matilde Vicenzi Award – Simply Extraordinary Women.”

“The Vicenzi Group is extremely proud to celebrate its 120 years of tradition and entrepreneurial vision”, says Giuliana Vicenzi, President of Vicenzi Group. “We wish to share our family’s history with the city of Verona by creating an award dedicated to contemporary women — the ‘modern Matildes’. Those who, with courage, competence, and dedication, significantly contribute to the growth of the community. This award stems from a strong set of values rooted in the family and the business and it has evolved into a broad and structured cultural project whose goal is to engage a variety of sectors — from science to business, and culture — and strengthen the bond between the Vicenzi Group and the local community. The Matilde Vicenzi Award focuses on extraordinary women in their everyday lives; those who, through their professional and personal journeys, have created value, supported the social fabric, and helped build virtuous networks.

The aim of the Matilde Vicenzi Award is to give visibility to women who have distinguished themselves in various professional fields for their passion, competence, and determination. These women have been building relationships on a daily basis and have shaped the future through their quiet but impactful work in the community. The award itself is not just a mere symbolic recognition, but also a work of art by sculptor Alessandro Mutto. This renowned artist from Verona created “L’Abbraccio”, the monumental sculpture that welcomed Pope Francis on the steps of the Basilica of San Zeno. This unique award-sculpture intertwines the winners’ hard work and passion with a strong symbolic link to the city of Verona. The Matilde Vicenzi Award renews the strong connection with the city of Verona, as the event turns into a community celebration sharing 120 years of history, passion, and culture.

The first of the four awards is dedicated to a woman who stands out in the field of culture: Daniela Brunelli, who devoted her life to promoting culture within the institutions and in service of her community.

• She is the first female President of the Società Letteraria di Verona (Verona Literary Society).
• She is the Director of the Central Library Arturo Frinzi and Coordinator of the University Library System at the University of Verona.
• She created the “Libri e Rose” literary event, which has brought to our city some of the most important voices in Italian and international literature.
• Since 2022, she is the President of the Dall’Abaco Conservatory.

Through her daily work, Daniela Brunelli reminds us that every gesture has value, every word carries responsibility, and every passion – when shared – can truly change a community.