What really happens when a corporate gift goes beyond a mere gesture? During the campaign Christmas 2025, together with the companies that have chosen us, Longo has decided to transform the corporate gifts through a concrete initiative in corporate social responsibility, capable of generating real value over time.
This decision led to the support for the activities of Roots, A social enterprise restaurant in Modena that supports migrant women through training and job placement programmes.
An impact that continues even after the festive season
The funds raised during the Christmas campaign, through the sale of corporate gift hampers, do not come to an end with the festive season. On the contrary, it is in 2026 that the initiative really takes shape.
Over the course of the year, it will help to support activities aimed at around 20 women taking part in various training programmes in both the kitchen and front-of-house, as part of a programme that combines practical training, daily mentoring and a gradual transition into the workplace.
It is not just about theoretical training, but a programme that combines real-world work, day-to-day mentoring and a gradual progression towards independence. This is the real value of the corporate gifts with a social impact: to create real and ongoing opportunities.
A project that is already underway
The first group of trainees started in January 2026. They come from Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Morocco, and are already an integral part of the restaurant’s day-to-day operations.
Among them are those who are experiencing their first job in Italy, building new skills and independence step by step. This is not a project that remains on paper: it is a process that is already underway and visible.
Over the coming months, new training programmes will build on this model, which is based on a simple yet powerful principle: learning by doing, with the constant support of those who guide participants through every stage of the process.
Much more than just a donation
To reduce it all to a financial contribution would be too narrow a view. The value of this support lies in its continuity: in the hours of work, in the relationships that are built, in listening and in shared responsibility. This is what enables Roots to sustain, day after day, a model that combines social integration, financial independence and personal growth.
An approach that truly embodies the meaning of corporate social responsibility as applied to corporate gifts.
Food as a means of integration
There is another aspect that makes this project even more tangible: you can experience it for yourself. Roots’ culinary offering stems from the fusion of Italian cuisine and personal stories. Each dish is the result of different experiences, backgrounds and life journeys, which come together to form a rich resource.
In this context, Food becomes so much more: it is storytelling, communication and integration.
The role of businesses: when a gift becomes a source of value
All this has been made possible thanks to the companies that have chosen the Longo corporate gifts, helping to create a a project with a real social impact. A gesture that, on the surface, seems simple – a gift – but which in reality sets in motion a much broader process: it creates opportunities, supports initiatives already underway and helps to build new avenues towards independence.
At the same time, it enables companies to integrate social responsibility into their decision-making in a practical way, transforming a traditional approach into a shared value that can be communicated.
To ensure that this commitment is also visible to the end recipients, a heart-shaped card was included in each pack, explaining the project and the practical support provided.
Putting down roots, blossoming once more
The deeper meaning of this project lies in this: to provide practical tools to enable people to build stability, find their place and make a fresh start.
A journey which, just as Roots’ mission suggests, helps people put down roots and flourish once more.