Supporting Families of Sick Children: The “Good Does Good” Campaign
When a child gets sick, it can change the life of the whole family. The charity campaign “Good does good” presented at the Central Market in Rome aims to contribute to the support and welcome of little patients admitted to the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital and their family members. The presentation conference of the “Good does good” campaign
A modest contribution from 50 cents for each plate sold at the Central Market can do a lot, as explained by restaurant entrepreneur Umberto Montano and the president of the hospital, Tiziano Onesti. Together with Lucia Celesti, responsible for the Hospital’s Hospitality Project, they illustrated the contents, values, and objectives of a six-month solidarity initiative, intended to unite food, social responsibility, and collective participation. 
50 cents for each dish will be donated to children being treated at the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome
Concrete Support for Families and Children
The accession of food artisans of the Central Market in Rome was unanimous. Everyone has created a dish, deliberately simple and accessible, which will become part of the selection “More than good!” offered at a low price, not exceeding 10 euros. The chosen claim, «The good that does good» expresses the desire to offer support to families who face significant difficulties during their children’s hospitalization, both due to the long treatment times and the distance from home. The project, supported by the Bambino Gesù Onlus Foundation, provides free housing solutions and material and psychological support, allowing children to have their parents close to them in a complex moment of their personal and family life.
Thanks to a network of associations, foundations, and hotel entities, in 2024 the Bambino Gesù Hospital managed to guarantee free housing assistance to 4350 families. 
The restaurant entrepreneur Umberto Montano (left) and the hospital president Tiziano Onesti
Solidarity and Quality Food
“However, demand is always growing and everyone’s contribution is needed,” said Tiziano Onesti «we are truly grateful to the Central Market and to all the artisans who have chosen to support this initiative, because their contribution helps us create a care environment capable of positively impacting healing paths. More than ever, on this occasion, quality food becomes a true symbol of generosity and supportive presence alongside those who are facing difficult challenges.”
For Umberto Montano, the Central Market is first and foremost a community made up of people, artisans, and relationships. «We believe that food can be a powerful vehicle of values», he explained, «capable of transforming a daily gesture into a concrete act of solidarity. This campaign was born from the idea that goodness is not a seasonal exception, but a commitment that can and must last all year round.
Solidarity Dishes for All Tastes
Among the gastronomic proposals for the occasion, the Fried “Suplizio” by Arcangelo Dandini, the Fried sandwich with egg, fior di latte and cooked ham, the Fresh Pasta Tomato and basil of the Central Market laboratory, the curly puff pastry on Sabato Sessa, the Burger with salad and half a rotisserie chicken of the La Carne shop, and the Cured meats by Dennys G. Rodriguez. For vegetarians and vegans, Marcella Bianchi proposes the Cereal mix: spelled with baked pumpkin, radicchio, baked courgettes and feta, while Günther Rohregger signs the Waffles with ice cream and granola. 
The Bambino Gesù Hospital
Founded in 1869, the Bambino Gesù Hospital, an institution of the Holy See, is a Institute for Scientific Hospitalization and Care (IRCCS) since 1985. Connected to the major international centres, it welcomes children and young people from all over Italy and abroad. Health care is distributed on six hospitalization and treatment centers for a total of 627 beds. In the San Paolo hub, there are genetic and cellular research laboratories, including a pharmaceutical workshop for advanced therapies. The hospital is also the Italian headquarters of Orphanet, the world’s largest database on rare diseases.
Read more about the “Good does good” campaign Here