Dear friends,
Talking about such a private and personal subject matter as helping others is not easy. Helping our fellow man is a privilege that each one of us should use with discretion and respect, in relation to our own means. This is what I did until now, realizing that my actions are but a mere drop of water in the vast ocean, yet certain I possessed a moral duty to do all that I could for the well-being of those less fortunate than myself.

Experience has taught me that if we pass on generosity, if we share the happiness and the goodness that resides in every one of us, it will come back to us, multiplied. “In the kingdom of love – an Irish theologist wrote – there is no competition; no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.”

When I was a boy, I too asked for help, I too was familiar with the feeling of needing help. I looked for support, for assistance from my close friends and family. After that, I had the chance, or better yet the joy, of being able to give back: a growing desire to help, which became a responsibility, an obligatory priority, and an ethical imperative.

The soul needs love as much as the body needs air. Love, as Dante teaches us, is the hidden rhythm of the universe (and “moves the sun and the other stars”): as soon as we glimpse a spark of love, it is essential that we offer up its warmth, like a blessing, to those who are hungry, incarcerated or confined to a hospital, prisoners of hardship.

Over the years, I have tried to make myself useful as much as I was able to, however, I grew to believe that it was not enough. That is why I decided to fully commit to this venture, doing away with the discretion that charitable deeds usually demand. That is why I created a foundation: to unite forces, to make sure that my actions are no mere “drop in the ocean” but rather join with others – as Mother Theresa teaches us – to become the ocean.

To my friends, to those who either for artistic or professional reasons have had the opportunity to get to know – and hopefully to appreciate – my work as a singer and the intellectual integrity that has marked my career, I ask for tangible support. I ask you to join me in the battle against poverty in developing countries and I ask you to respond to the significant challenges in the social and scientific research fields.

The Andrea Bocelli Foundation carries my name: it is not some frivolous exercise in vanity, but rather represents the sealing of a pact and the unequivocal assumption of responsibility. Indeed, I am committing to overseeing and to guaranteeing the quality and transparency of each step of every project.

Professionally, I am devoted to my greatest passion, music. After all, life has been very generous with me – both professionally and privately – and I feel it is my duty to repay this debt and give back. What many people think is my main problem in life, is actually the last on my list. The challenge is not to conjure up a face or a sunset, but to find our way amidst the hundreds of daily difficulties that present themselves (which wealth and success do not help diminish!) with a strong desire to not resort to compromise, not to lose my integrity (and the serenity that goes with it), and not to lose myself.

I earnestly invite all my friends to give in to the temptation of love and to donate to support the Foundation. When one loves, and when we let ourselves be loved, fear becomes boldness and the emptiness becomes fulfilment, because – as Saint Paul reminds us – “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast (…) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

If you are still skeptical, try and close your eyes. You will be able to look far into the distance, to think and reflect without distraction within the intimacy of your own mind about what we are and the part of eternity that is the secret to each of our existences. I am sure you will then agree with my humble reflection that sparked the project that gave life to the Foundation and that has become its mission:

Our faith in love and justice calls upon us to build a better world than the one we have found. It calls upon us to give back to the world all the good things that we have received, so that the less fortunate or the most vulnerable members of our society will have a chance to achieve a life full of opportunities and beauty, so those who take up the challenge will find real opportunities and the energy required to thrive in their lives.