Fantinel, a world-class Italian wine company, kicked off an international charitable campaign to benefit Camillus House and its mission to end chronic homelessness in Greater Miami during a ceremony on March 24 at the Camillus House Shelter.

Marco Fantinel, President of Fantinel and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, announced the program under which his company will donate 50 cents to Camillus House for every bottle of Fantinel wine sold on any Carnival Cruise Lines ship worldwide. The kickoff ceremony featured the presentation of a $ 4,800 check as the wine company’s initial gift to Camillus House.

“We are extremely grateful for this creative, very generous initiative. The collaboration between Fantinel and Carnival Cruise Lines gives worldwide vacationers a very enjoyable way of helping end chronic homelessness in Miami,” said Bob Dickinson, Camillus House Board Chairman and retired president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. “It is wonderful to know that someone vacationing overseas, bathing in the warm waters of the Caribbean, exploring Alaska or discovering Italy, can help persons served by Camillus House by just enjoying the finest Fantinel wines.”

Camillus House will use the funds donated by Fantinel to further its mission of providing food, shelter, housing, treatment, and healthcare services to men, women and children who are poor and homeless in our community.

Camillus House has provided humanitarian services to persons who are poor and homeless in Miami-Dade County for nearly 50 years. Established by the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1960, Camillus House has grown steadily over the years from a small overnight shelter into a full-service center for persons who are poor and homeless.

Fantinel, a family owned wine company, was founded in 1969 by Friulian restaurateur and hotelier Mario Fantinel. The company prides itself in producing world-class Pinot Grigio, one of Italy’s best Proseccos and Celebrate Life Merlot, a wine created to raise money to fight malnutrition worldwide through a $1 donation for every bottle sold. Led by third generation vintner Marco Fantinel, Fantinel produces wines from grapes grown solely in Fantinel vineyards and possesses the largest number of DOC and DOCG vineyards in the region. The family also owns prosciutto producer Testa & Molinaro, renowned soccer club Triestina and operates the Pane Vino e San Daniele restaurants with more than 20 locations across Italy.