Andrea Bocelli Foundation - Ente Filantropico
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to empowering children and young people living in vulnerable contexts, enabling them to recognize their talents and become active protagonists of their own lives.
In line with its mission, “Empowering people and communities”, ABF promotes social innovation in communities affected by cultural and socio-economic poverty. Its educational approach nurtures transversal skills—such as creativity—through the languages of art, music, and digital technologies.
The Foundation adopts a systemic and integrated approach, designing and implementing original, replicable pilot projects. Its goal is to contribute to the development of high-quality social and educational policies, in partnership with both public and private entities. For ABF, social innovation means creating and implementing solutions that generate measurable impact, returning to individuals and communities the power to act as agents of change in shaping global citizenship.
ABF contributes to ensuring access to equitable, inclusive, and quality education, in line with Goal 4.7 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, enabling every child and young person to express their potential fully.
By working on physical spaces, surrounding contexts, human relationships, and the social fabric, ABF builds ecosystems where citizens and institutions collaborate and interact to address complex social and environmental challenges—generating long-lasting impact.
Our guiding beliefs
ABF strongly believes, as Plutarch once wrote, that children and young people are not “vessels to be filled, but fires to be kindled.” Education is the most powerful tool we have to address the great challenges of our time. Its transformative power extends beyond the individual, fostering culture, relationships, and social cohesion.
For ABF, quality education means moving beyond traditional, transmission-based models and instead promoting transversal skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and intercultural collaboration.
It means placing art, music, and digital learning at the heart of the educational process, as instruments that foster creativity, authenticity, and self-awareness.
This vision of education represents a necessary paradigm shift to navigate the complexity and pace of today’s world—an education that, through lifelong learning and responsible commitment to the common good, shapes resilient, conscious, and ethical individuals.
Mission
Empowering people and communities
Our mission is to create a world where children, youth, and vulnerable communities are empowered to express their potential fully.
With a person-centered approach, we work to generate lasting change by promoting transformative social innovation in complex contexts.
We achieve this through high-quality, inclusive educational programs that utilize art, music, and digital tools as key drivers of personal and collective growth, fostering awareness and the full expression of oneself.
Vision
We envision a fairer, more just, and sustainable world, where the new generations are active protagonists of change — conscious global citizens.
A just world that invests in children and young people so that everyone can develop the skills and awareness needed to build a society founded on respect, cooperation, and meaningful connection.
What we do
Our activity – Our actions
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation collaborates with public and private partners to develop, design, and implement pilot projects that utilize education as a catalyst for social innovation, aiming to strengthen communities in complex contexts. ABF’s projects are conceived to be replicable—part of a systemic approach that generates sustainable, long-term, and positive transformations.
For the Foundation, education is the starting point of every social innovation process—whether in areas affected by natural disasters, poverty, or conflict, or within pediatric hospitals.
ABF invests resources in developing tools that foster the growth of children and young people, enabling them to become active protagonists of their own lives.
ABF’s educational approach is built on three key pillars: art, music, and digital learning. These act as essential tools for stimulating creativity, collaboration, and self-awareness. Through digitalization, ABF ensures accessibility and designs activities that support the full development of every student.
The Foundation also designs educational and social spaces and pathways that stimulate critical thinking, civic participation, and lifelong learning, in collaboration with schools, universities, public institutions, and businesses.
How we work
Our method
ABF believes that only by uniting skills and shared visions can we generate meaningful and lasting change. This is why we work closely with public and private partners, enhancing existing resources and creating synergies in the communities where we operate.
In the most vulnerable contexts, supporting children and young people also means upholding the dignity of their communities—through access to clean water, healthcare, food security, and humanitarian relief in times of emergency.
Our projects are structured into five programs, with particular attention devoted to design, monitoring, and impact evaluation. At the heart of every intervention are innovative, replicable pilot projects designed to contribute to the development of fair and high-quality social and educational policies.
Local teams and partners work directly in the field, tailoring interventions to the specific needs of each community and ensuring effective, contextualized actions.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation is born
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation was established in Lajatico, with Dr. Laura Biancalani entrusted as its first Director.
“MIT 5th Sense” project
The Foundation officially launched, during its visit in Los Angeles, and gave the start to the program Challenges with the “MIT 5th Sense”.
Work days for Challenges and Break the Barriers programs
In Pisa, the Foundation hosted two days of activities dedicated to its intervention programs: Challenges and Break the Barriers. The event brought together leading international experts in scientific and technological research, as well as in the field of social enterprise.
Fundraising initiative for “La Lucciola”
For the occasion of the Teatro del Silenzio, the Foundation launched its first fundraising initiative in the favor of the Day Center for people with disabilities “La Lucciola” of Stuffione di Ravarino, badly damaged by the earthquake in Emilia in May of that year.
Virginia project inauguration
The Foundation inaugurated the Virginia project conceived to implement the department of Neonatology of the Pediatric Hospital of St. Damien in Tabarrè, Haiti.
Haitian children visiting the Foundation
A delegation of children coming from Haiti accompanied by Father Rick Frechette met the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Founder and his family in Forte dei Marmi.
Christmas Dinner for homeless guests
At the reception shelter San Paolino in Florence, in collaboration with Caritas the Andrea Bocelli Foundation organized Christmas Dinner for homeless guests.
ABF for Syria Emergency
The Foundation responded to the International humanitarian appeal to send help, to the Syrian people on the run and cooperating with UNHCR supported the purchasing of basic necessities for the refugee camps.
Opening of the childhood school Sacro Cuore” in Finale Emilia
The Foundation participated to the opening of the childhood school Sacro Cuore” in Finale Emilia rebuilt after the earthquake thanks also to the contribution of its Founder Maestro Bocelli.
Meeting with Pope Francis
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Founder’s family met Pope Francesco on a private audience, and started a collaboration with the Papal Charities Offices related to common projects in Italy to support people in need.
ABF in Haiti
A delegation of the Foundation went on a mission to Haiti to identify and plan new development projects. Then the President Biancalani visited the MIT in Boston to supervise the progress of the project “MIT 5th Sense”.
Meeting with Pope Francis on a private audience
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Founder’s family met Pope Francis on a private audience, and started a collaboration with the Papal Charities Offices related to common projects in Italy to support people in need.
Wheat 2013-2014 Haiti project opening
As a part of the Break the Barriers Program opened the project Wheat 2013-2014, Haiti by means of which the Foundation supports the work of teachers in the schools of St. Philomene, St. Agustin and Notre Dame du Rosaire as well as the drinking water distribution service in the slums of Citè Soleil.
Andrea Bocelli received the Humanitarian Award
Andrea Bocelli received in Hamburg the Humanitarian Award of the Lions International for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
First day of the ABF Volunteers.
The Foundation opened the first day of the ABF Volunteers.
Laura Biancalani received the ARNo award
The President Laura Biancalani received the ARNo award for solidarity.
MIT-ABF partnership evening
An evening dedicated to the partnership MIT-ABF and to the 10th Anniversary J-Pal (The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) at the Grey House, the MIT President home, in Cambridge, Boston.
ABF-MIT Seminars
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the MIT presented in Boston two seminars related to the two intervention programs Challenges and Break the Barriers. For their cultural, innovation, and development value, they were included in the official Program for the celebrations of the Year of Italian culture in the United States.
Edu Project
ABF opened along with the Fondation St. Luc in Haiti the EDU project for the conversion of the street schools of St. Augustin, St. Philomene and Notre Dame du Rosaire into functional structures with large classrooms, computer labs, a library, and canteens, in order to raise the level of education and services to that of national and international standards.
Construction of the new St. Philomene school begins
Laying of the foundation stone of the new school of St. Philomene in Kenscoff.
Celebrity Fight Night Foundation in Florence
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation welcomed in Italy the delegation of the Fondation St. Luc and together they participated to the events organized by Celebrity Fight Night Foundation in Florence.
2nd truck for ABF Water Truck project
ABF continues its project of drinking water distribution in the slums renewing the project “ABF Water Truck” and increasing the number of trucks from 1 to 2.
Iraq Emergency
ABF responded to the International appeal of UNHCR in support of refugees from Iraq contributing to the purchase of electric blankets and tanks to transport water.
Andrea Bocelli and Veronica Berti received the UNCA prize
Andrea Bocelli and Veronica Berti received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon the UNCA prize for their humanitarian commitment through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
Andrea Bocelli received the Crystal Award
Andrea Bocelli received, in Davos, for his humanitarian work with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award.
Inaugurazion of St. Philomene and Notre Dame du Rosaire schools
ABF and its Founder inaugurated in Haiti the schools of St. Philomene and Notre Dame du Rosaire.
3.COM Project
The development of “3.COM” project started in Haiti with specific intervention in the communities of Kenscoff, Croix-des-Bouquets and Abricot with the aim of giving access to water, electricity and agri-economic development.
Inauguration of St. Augustin school
Inauguration of St. Augustin school giving access to education for more than 750 children.
World Meeting of Families
Andrea Bocelli Foundation in Philadelphia for Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families.
2nd edition of the Celebrity Fight Night
2nd edition of the Celebrity Fight Night. Over a hundred donors and many international guests together to support the projects of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.
EXPO Milano 2015
ABF and MIT as civil society participants in EXPO 2015 in Milan together for a workshop entitled “Working together to grow food for the body, the mind, the heart. The resources of the human potential
Launch of the “Voices of Haiti” Project
ABF and the Fondation St Luc have introduced music into the curriculum of the ABF-FSL schools and created a choir of 60 talented students: all to offer an additional element to enhance their potential. Voicesofhaiti.org
Launch of the “ABF Mobile Clinic”
Every 3 months, 2 doctors and 3 nurses travel to the 5 communities in which ABF works to provide basic healthcare and offer prevention activities to students, their families and members of the communities.
Launch of the ERCI-EDU project
The Foundation supports the linguistic and cultural integration of the Elpidia Project by providing the digital tools for its work.
Rebuilding of the St. Augustin School in Haiti – after Hurricane Matthew
Restoration and reinforcement work on the foundations and roof.
Inauguration of the “G. Leopardi” middle school in Sarnano
ABF opens its first rebuilding project following on from the 2016 earthquake and inaugurates the new school facility in just 150 working days.
Inauguration of the Ecole Manitane School in Dame Marie, Haiti
In June, the Foundation – along with the Fondation St Luc – inaugurated the fifth school built to accommodate up to 400 students.
The Music Festival in Sarnano “YES, LET’S MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER”
A year after the inauguration of the new school building, the Foundation organizes a day dedicated to music with the community, the students of Sarnano and those who come from the areas of the earthquake crater.
Inauguration of the “E. De Amicis” elementary school and pre-school in Muccia
On June 26, after 150 days of construction work, the new school in Muccia was inaugurated, which houses special classrooms dedicated to music, art and sustainability.
Launch of Voices of the World & ABF at the UNESCO “Symphony 2030: Creative Art Education for Inclusion”
ABF signs a partnership agreement with UNESCO in order to promote music as an additional element for expressing one’s potential and as a tool to facilitate inclusion and integration.
Scholarship for the “Royal College of Music” with the Community Jameel
Established to offer access to one of the most prestigious training and specialization courses in the world to talented young people.
ABF Music Lab – Zerosei Center in Lajatico
ABF shapes the spaces of the school by inserting the role of an atelerista to provide musical and artistic workshops.
“ABF with You, for the COVID-19 emergency”
ABF decides to launch a fundraiser to support hospitals in the areas in which it works.
ABF With You, to Shape the Future”
The Foundation launches the project dedicated to the digitalization of education.
Launch of H-Labs: ABF for Hospital Schools
The Foundation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Italian Ministry of Education and the Italian Pediatric Hospitals Association (AOPI) network to create digital workshops and suitable educational spaces within children’s hospitals.
Inauguration of the “Franco Corelli” Music Academy in Camerino
Despite the enforced stop to work due to the COVID-19 emergency, ABF kept its promise to build the new facility within 150 days.
Inauguration of ABF’s new headquarters in “San Firenze” & the ABF GlobaLab
ABF moves its new headquarters to the second floor of the San Firenze Complex, dedicating a section to creating the vocational workshops for young people aged 16-25 years.
“Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award” given to Pope Francis
ABF’s Founder Andrea Bocelli, Vice-Chair Veronica Berti Bocelli and President Laura Biancalani present the “Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award” to His Holiness Pope Francis as a symbolic gesture of our esteem and admiration.
10 years of ABF
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary of “Empowering People & Communities” with a celebratory video-mapping show projected onto the facade of the San Firenze Complex.
With You, to Shape the Future – Let’s Rebuild the San Ginesio Vocational School
ABF launches its 4th rebuilding project after the 2016 earthquake that hit Central Italy, which follows on from the schools in Sarnano, Muccia and Camerino.
Opening Bell ceremony at NASDAQ
For the first 10 years of ABF’s mission of “empowering people and communities”, our Founder, Chair Stefano Aversa, Vice-Chair Veronica Berti Bocelli, President Laura Biancalani and Amos Bocelli, ABF Junior Research Group Leader, took part in the Opening Bell ceremony at NASDAQ today, December 14.
Meeting with the Italian Education Minister Patrizio Bianchi
The meeting of our Founder Andrea Bocelli with the Italian Education Minister Patrizio Bianchi, the Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella, our Vice-Chair Veronica Berti Bocelli and our President Laura Biancalani at ABF’s headquarters in San Firenze in occasion of the International Day of Education 2022.
With You, for a Future of Peace
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation launches a fundraiser to offer tangible support for the emergency caused by the Russian-Ukraine conflict. In addition to providing basic essentials, in collaboration with the UNHCR the Foundation has set up a reception and integration project for mothers and children.
Presentation of the new IPSIA “R. Frau” in San Ginesio
The official presentation of the new IPSIA “R. Frau” facility in San Ginesio, Sarnano. The rebuilding project of San Ginesio High School, the fourth ABF aid project after the 2016 earthquake in Central Italy, sees the construction of a school complex in accordance with the guidelines of the team of experts of the Foundation in consultation with the Offices of the Commissioner for Reconstruction.
Welcomed the first Ukrainian families
ABF has welcomed the first Ukrainian families thanks to the “With You, To Shape A Future Of Peace” project: the aim is to offer a safe environment where these families can start again and find a new daily life.
The project was achieved thanks to the spirit of solidarity and community of the towns of Muccia, Pieve Torina, and San Ginesio in the Marche region.
ABF Voices of Peace – Italy
The 30 choristers from the “ABF Voices of Peace – Italy” project launched a message of peace and hope from the stage of the Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico, together with our Founder Andrea Bocelli.
Empire State Building
On December 12, 2022, the Empire State Building’s Tower Lights were lit in blue and white in recognition of the Foundation’s innovative music education program, “ABF Voices of”.
ABF Educational Center for Hospital Schools
The “ABF Educational Center for Hospital Schools“ was presented on the International Day of Education 2023! The ABF Educational Center represents the third step in the ABF H-Lab project, which will be launched as a pilot project at Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence.
The ABF inaugurates the “Maria Manetti Shrem” Educational Center at the Meyer Hospital in Florence
A great celebration took place at the Meyer Hospital in Florence for the opening of the ABF “Maria Manetti Shrem” Educational Center, a center entirely dedicated to the educational activities of hospitalized children, conceived and built by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation in collaboration with the AOU Meyer IRCCS and the Meyer Foundation.
Sforzacosta celebrates the Inauguration of the ABF 0-11 Educational Hub
More than a thousand people attended the inauguration ceremony of Lot B of the ABF 0-11 Educational Hub in Sforzacosta, which featured a packed program of entertainment and activities designed for both adults and children.
The launch of ABF Voices of Uganda
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation has launched the ABF Voices of Uganda project, reinforcing its commitment to creating opportunities for empowerment and growth for children in highly vulnerable situations.
Inauguration of New ABF Globalab Spaces
In the new wing of Palazzo di San Firenze, home to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, additional workshop spaces dedicated to education and creativity have been created for the ABF Globalab program.
Andrea Bocelli a Pompei canta con i giovani coristi “ABF Voices of”
On stage with founder Andrea Bocelli were the young choristers of ABF Voices of Italy – Camerino and ABF Voices of Italy – Naples, part of the global ABF Voices of programme.
They joined their voices to send a message of hope, beauty and rebirth through music.
ABF celebrates first day of school at the new “Ugo Betti” School Complex in Camerino
The first bell rings at the new “Ugo Betti” Comprehensive School in Camerino, which welcomes children and young people to a modern, safe and future-proof facility, built thanks to the joint efforts of the Commissioner for Reconstruction Guido Castelli, the Marche Region, the Municipality of Camerino and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
The ABF Educational Hub 0-11 in Sforzacosta is now complete with the delivery of the new gym
The new gym at the “G. Natali” primary school was delivered at the start of the new school year, the last piece needed to complete the ABF Educational Hub 0-11 in Sforzacosta, the result of a collaboration between the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Municipality of Macerata.
ABF and the Special Commissioner for post-earthquake reconstruction 2016 visit the construction site of the new Ipsia ‘R. Frau’ school in San Ginesio
The CEO of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, Laura Biancalani, and the Special Commissioner for post-earthquake reconstruction 2016, Guido Castelli, visited the construction site of the new R. Frau Vocational School for Industry and Crafts in San Ginesio to closely monitor the progress of the work and share the next steps of the project with the local community.
Our Values
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation works in strict adherence to a selection of key values, which can be summed up in the following six “Cs”:
Courage: We act boldly to generate meaningful, lasting change, striving for a more sustainable, fair, and just world.
Concreteness: We move beyond raising awareness to develop, study, and implement concrete actions that bring our mission to life and deliver authentic, lasting change.
Care: For us, care is not just an attitude but an ongoing process and a guiding principle lived through human relationships, grounded in trust and mutual respect. It means fostering open communication, promoting understanding, and creating welcoming, supportive environments.
Competence: We commit to carrying out every activity with professionalism, responsibility, and transparency, cultivating the expertise needed to ensure our work is effective, sustainable, and impactful.
Creativity: We design and implement innovative ideas, transformative practices, and forward-looking solutions to drive social innovation.
Cooperation: We firmly believe that collective change is possible only by joining forces toward a shared future. We value collaboration as a way to create new ecosystems of relationship and development.
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.