Samuele was nine years old and from Polla. He had a rare serious illness and was treated at the Gaslini Institute, according to Il Mattino.
He died on 7 November 2025. His family created “Il Sorriso di Samuele” to preserve his memory by helping other children.
The campaign supports “Il Guscio dei Bimbi,” the Gaslini hospice. By the time of the family’s return visit to Genoa, it had raised more than €75,000, according to Il Mattino.
The fundraising is connected to an expansion project for the hospice, intended to make it more welcoming and suitable for children and their families, according to the City of Genoa.
Genoa mayor Silvia Salis publicly supported the project during the “Una pasta e patate speciale” initiative at the Gaslini Institute.
A theatre performance scheduled for 15 November at the Marco Scarpetta municipal theatre in Sala Consilina was announced as a fundraiser for “Il Sorriso di Samuele.”
