Osvaldo Longo, CEO of Longo un Mondo di Specialità, has been appointed Ambassador for Telefono Rosa 2026 during the annual gala of the National Association of Telefono Rosa Volunteers, which took place on 24 September in Rome, at the Pio Sodalizio dei Piceni.
This recognition stems from a relationship built up over time and reflects a particular way of understanding the corporate social responsibility: not as a series of one-off initiatives, but as a commitment that is gradually integrated into the company’s decisions, relationships and projects.
Recognition of a commitment built up over time
Every year, the Telefono Rosa Gala is dedicated to the individuals, institutions and organisations that have made a tangible contribution to supporting the Association’s mission and promoting a culture based on respect, freedom and gender equality.
At the 2026 edition, nine awards were presented to nine individuals from the worlds of government, business, research and civil society. Among them were also Osvaldo Longo.
For us, this appointment represents, above all, recognition of a journey that, over the years, has led us to gain an ever-deeper understanding of the meaning of social responsibility and the role that a business can play in supporting and raising awareness of projects capable of making a tangible impact.
Longo and Telefono Rosa: a commitment forged over time
The collaboration between Longo and Telefono Rosa It stems from a desire to go beyond mere financial support, by getting to know the organisations we work with first-hand, gaining a deeper understanding of their activities and creating opportunities to share details of their work with our corporate clients.
Among the projects developed in collaboration with the Association is the Pink Panettone, created to transform one of the most traditional symbols of Christmas into a means of providing practical support. At Christmas 2025, for every panettone sold, Longo donated 2.50 euros to Telefono Rosa. This initiative also involved companies that chose this product for their Christmas gifts, thereby linking the act of giving to a social cause.
The project forms part of a wider initiative: we believe, in fact, that the corporate gift may convey not only consideration for the recipient, but also the values and choices of the company giving it.
Social responsibility as part of corporate culture
During the Gala, Osvaldo Longo was asked how social responsibility can be transformed from an occasional gesture into an integral part of a company’s culture and decision-making.
«For many years, social responsibility was something we did almost instinctively, without necessarily calling it that. In recent years, however, we have realised that simply supporting a good cause is not enough: it is important to choose projects carefully, to get to know them first-hand and to ensure our commitment is sustained.
This has a special significance for us, because we work with companies that, through a gift, also choose how to present themselves. We therefore feel a responsibility to propose serious charitable projects – ones we know well and in which we believe. Social responsibility truly becomes part of corporate culture when it shapes the way we choose our partners, develop our projects and also use our networks to amplify their impact.»
Continuity is, in fact, one of the key aspects of this approach: it is not simply a matter of supporting a cause, but of building relationships with the organisations we choose to work with and, through our network, helping to raise awareness of their work.
Telefono Rosa: a listening service, protection and support for women
Telefono Rosa It is committed to preventing and combating violence against women through listening, providing shelter, protection and support. In 2025 alone, in Rome and the surrounding area, the Association supported almost two thousand women through dedicated support programmes to help victims escape violence.
This is day-to-day work that requires consistency, expertise and a network capable of supporting it and amplifying its message. It is also from this realisation that the partnership between Longo and Telefono Rosa has emerged.
An accolade that looks to the future
«Being appointed an Ambassador for Telefono Rosa is an honour for me, but above all a responsibility,» says Osvaldo Longo. «It means continuing to support and raise awareness of this vital work, whilst striving to involve more and more people and companies. I believe that a business can create value not only through what it produces, but also through the relationships it builds and the causes it chooses to champion.»
The appointment to Telefono Rosa Ambassador 2026 It thus becomes not only a recognition of the progress made to date, but also an invitation to carry on: carefully selecting the projects to support, building lasting partnerships and harnessing the company’s connections to support initiatives that can create value for the community as well.