Young Charity Doing Big Things of ACHA

Audia Caring Heritage Association is considered a young charity because it began in the fall of 2000 when Albert Andy, of Washington County, organized a meeting with a group of friends and associates that have a heart for helping people.

At this meeting, Albert shared the experiences he had while visiting the small mountain town of San Giovanni in Fiore, Cosenza, in Southern Italy. He had gone there with the desire to learn more about his heritage and the region his family had immigrated to America from. He discovered the beauty in both the natural surroundings and in the hearts of the people. He expressed his desire to repay the kindness of the people in a way that would benefit the many inhabitants of not only San Giovanni in Fiore but also the whole region. The people at this meeting responded with the great enthusiasm to do a project in Italy but also to look for ways to help organizations at home.

In September 2000, Audia Caring Heritage Association was established with the mission statement “to assist communities in need and improve their quality of life.” The primary focus of ACHA is to assist established organizations that provide medical services, health education or seek to enrich the lives of those in their communities in ways that reinforce their heritage.

Since helping the people of Cosenza was the spirit that gave birth to ACHA, the first project was to raise almost a half million dollars to purchase medical diagnostic equipment for the hospital in San Giovanni in Fiore. The volunteers worked diligently to raise the necessary funds and in the spring of 2002, friends and trustees of ACHA traveled at their own expense to San Giovanni in Fiore for the dedication of a new medical examination suite. Audia Caring Heritage Association’s donation of a GE HI-Speed Scanner (cat scan), and a video laparoscope, ultrasound imaging, and retinal laser machines had already begun to improve and save lives.

As the enthusiasm for this new charity grew, volunteers from Pittsburgh and West Virginia joined the team and established additional groups to support the efforts both globally and locally.

In November of 2002, the West Virginia Chapter of ACHA held the first Annual Taste of Italy event in Morgantown. As a result of this successful event, the chapter donated funds to add a medical examining room to the Morgantown Health Right Clinic and to assist in a Medical Educational Program with doctors from Italy.

In April of 2003, the Pennsylvania group added a Pittsburgh address to their chapter and began raising fund to establish a Health and Wellness Library at the Vintage House in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

New projects are evaluated when they are presented to ACHA. The trustees from Pennsylvania have already approved funding for a dental suite at the Jock Yablonski Centerville Clinic. The project will be completed when the gifts to ACHA exceed the amount needed. The Pennsylvania and West Virginia Chapters will join together to fund the Educational Exchange Program that will bring doctors from the hospital in San Giovanni in Fiore to America and send American medical students to study in Italy.

Audia Caring Heritage Association may be a young charity but the community leaders who serve as trustees and event volunteers bring many years of experience to the organization. These dedicated volunteers are leaders in industry, attorneys, physicians, homemakers, business owners, corporate leaders and retired charitable organization leaders. ACHA volunteers and staff work diligently to ensure that all projects are worthy of your generous support. Operating costs are kept at a minimum so that your financial support will create a lasting impact on the lives of the people in both our local and global communities.

We need your help. Please join with us by giving your tax-deductible donation to ACHA. Together we can make the world a better place.