It was the John Paul II Oratory in San Vendemiano that hosted the 13th edition of “No Panthers No Party” the glamorous event organized by Cuoredarena – VTV Volleyball – Sindaco Events, which this year was attended by more than 200 participants. Dinner that is a party encompassing sports, cheering, attention and commitment to social issues promoted by Cuoredarena together with Imoco Volleyball. The super champion Panthers gave smiles and enthused those present, accompanied by coach Daniele Santarelli, the technical staff and president Piero Garbellotto.
The evening opened with the awarding of Matteo Giomo, a special Gialloblu fan. Class of 1980, born in Biancade di Roncade, he is a disabled athlete with Down syndrome and has been playing sports for 32 years, particularly downhill skiing and table tennis. His palmares include more than 200 medals between national and international titles. He leaves this message to athletes: “Just take out an S for bad luck to become good luck!”
Then, during the evening, there was the presentation of scholarships in memory of Marco Guerrato, a journalist, friend of Cuoredarena and Panthers fan, who passed away on April 29, 2019 at only 46 years old. Presenting the two best papers, according to the committee that evaluated them, were Leroy Ogbekene and Leonardo Bonan.
Leroy Ogbekene, born in Treviso in 2008, attends the third grade at the Istituto Palladio graphic design school. He loves volleyball and plays with Treviso Volleyball under 17, a group he returned to after spending a year with Kosmos Volleyball, which offered him the scholarship opportunity.
Leonardo Bonan, class of 2006, attends Leonardo Da Vinci Scientific High School in Treviso.
Besides school, volleyball occupies most of his days; between practices and matches, the court is like a second home for him. He could not be present at the event, so his dad Lorenzo, who, Leonardo says, “supports me and puts up with me every day, dedicating most of his time to me,” collected the award. Efrem and Anna Guerrato have also decided to donate two more scholarships to deserving students of the Latin Patriarchate Schools of Jerusalem.
For the 2024/2025 season, the scholarship moves from the right bank of the Piave River to the left bank with the passing of the baton from the Kosmos Volleyball club of Zero Branco to Pallavolo Susegana. In addition to the handing over of the two scholarships, the three “social” days were presented during the evening, the “Social days” at Palaverde with the participation of local voluntary associations: Dec. 8 “A stuffed animal for a smile” with and for Lilt and Playing in the Lane, which will have Zhu Ting, Merit Adigwe, Sarah Fahr and Anna Bardaro as godmothers; Feb. 12, 2025 “A heart for autism” with and for Oltre il Labirinto onlus, whose godmothers will be Gabriela Braga Guimarães GABI, Katja Eckl, Marina Lubian, Asia Wolosz and Martyna Lukasik; onMarch 1, “Goodness takes the field” with and for Aipd Marca Trevigiana, which will have Nanami Seki, Monica De Gennaro, Isabelle Haak, Khalia Lanier and Cristina Chirichella as its godmothers.
The fan from the farthest away was also awarded: Vincenzo Norato from Castellammare di Stabia (Naples), who traveled 789 kilometers to be at the party.
Also participating in the celebration were Nicoletta and Walter, parents of Sara Anzanello, to whom the October 26 “Remembering Sara” tournament is dedicated, now in its 4th edition, which will be held in the Ponte di Piave arena and is organized with the collaboration of Cuoredarena, and Marco Mestriner of the Italian National Transplant Team.
The party could not end without the traditional and long-awaited cake cutting.