Bocconi University Dedicates Piazza Sraffa 13 Building to Leonardo Del Vecchio and Celebrates His Humanity and Philanthropic Legacy
The Leonardo Del Vecchio Tribute Event was held today at Bocconi University. During the event, the University dedicated the building in the heart of the campus — where more than 5,000 students attend classes every day — to one of the most influential entrepreneurs of the 20th century, marking a first in Italy.
The initiative follows a historic agreement — made official last October — between the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation and Bocconi University for the establishment of the Leonardo Del Vecchio Students Award fund: a tangible commitment to promote an increasingly equitable and inclusive university. Endowed with €20 million, the fund will make it possible to continuously support economically disadvantaged students who have passed the admissions test, annually allocating tuition waivers and scholarships.
This agreement was strongly supported by Nicoletta Zampillo Del Vecchio, President of the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation, and Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University. Also attending the ceremony were members of the entire Del Vecchio family, the President of the University, Andrea Sironi, and Bocconi Professor of Economic History, Andrea Colli. Professor Colli spoke on the topic of "Leonardo Del Vecchio and the Italian Model of Capitalism." Ferruccio De Bortoli, as President of VIDAS and Fondazione Corriere della Sera, Antonella Carù, Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at Bocconi, and Silvio Garattini, Chair of the Mario Negri Institute IRCCS, were part of a panel moderated by the journalist, Maria Silvia Sacchi, entitled "Family Foundations, the Role of Philanthropy and the Need for Public-Private Partnerships." Other speakers included several students who are fund recipients.
"The legacy of Leonardo Del Vecchio, visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, continues to inspire the younger generations," said Rector Billari. "His personal and professional history embodies core values for Bocconi University: hard work, merit, inclusion and having faith in the talent of young people. It is because of our shared principles that we have decided to name the Piazza Sraffa 13 building after him with a plaque that commemorates his life, but which above all is an invitation for the younger generations to believe in their abilities and not to be conditioned by where they start out."
Opening the ceremony, Nicoletta Zampillo Del Vecchio, President of the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation, said: "Once again we must thank Leonardo for creating the circumstances that allow the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation to exist. We must also thank him for conveying an awareness of our responsibility to generate a positive impact on society by giving back what we have been given and experienced. He continues to convey this responsibility to us with renewed energy through the Foundation’s many projects, which are pursued with extraordinary people based on their needs and in accordance with the values that have motivated all of Leonardo's activities. These include education, healthcare, social inclusion and research, with the aim of operating in each area to leave a clear and systemic mark of positive change. Our agreement with Bocconi University is a first step of high-impact intervention that has taught us a lot. Today we are also looking at other organizations, such as the world of technical institutes and training, as we believe that everyone deserves to have the tools to express their talent. There is a need for hope and this is why we are even more proud to know that hundreds of thousands of young people over time, passing through the building named after Leonardo, will have the opportunity to see the plaque dedicated to him and read a phrase that encapsulates much of his life and his example: ‘I was sure that everything would depend on me and my work.’ This awareness is the real driver of change."
During the ceremony, the photography exhibit "Viewpoints Changing the World: Leonardo Del Vecchio’s Story" was also inaugurated. Curated by Maria Vittoria Baravelli, it will be open until October 2025.
The Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation
Established by the will of Leonardo Del Vecchio, an entrepreneur with an uncommon vision who shaped the development of Italy’s economy, the Del Vecchio Foundation is a non-profit entity created as a give-back project, aimed at giving back to the community.
Today, under the leadership of Nicoletta Zampillo Del Vecchio, the Foundation is committed to safeguarding the values that marked her husband's life as both a man and an entrepreneur. It does so by promoting and supporting projects capable of generating a real and meaningful social impact in the priority areas outlined by Leonardo: education, healthcare, research and support in situations of need.