Lidia Matticchio Bastianich Foundation

Lidia, coming to America as a young immigrant of twelve, knows first hand what it means to receive assistance, kindness, understanding and being welcomed to America, a new country, a new life.
Lidia is grateful for all the opportunities she received and now more than ever wants to give back Lidia has worked hard to organize benefits and raise funds for the less fortunate throughout her career. She has collaborated closely with organizations such as UNICEF and UNIFEM on issues such as world hunger, refugee crises, and violence against women.

To further these missions and others related to Lidia’s work, the Lidia Matticchio Bastianich Foundation was established in 1999. The foundation’s goals are to benefit the indigent, oppressed, neglected, or ill by promoting their health, welfare, happiness in a number of ways. These include academic training, vocational training, economic development, and other projects that assist them in leading fulfilling lives.

The foundation has engaged in a variety of projects to fulfill its mission. It funds education programs at the elementary through post-graduate levels. It has aided Croatian, Albanian, and other Eastern European immigrants fleeing conflict by providing housing, education, financial assistance, and support to facilitate activities that preserve cultural heritage. The foundation has also funded programs and artistic efforts in visual arts, performance arts, and other forms of cultural activity. In the field of medicine, the foundation has supported medical research, the procurement of advanced medical technologies, and transportation of medical personnel conducting mission-related work.