The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) Leadership Council, Ontario Canada, hosted a charity event to benefit vulnerable migrants and their families to become self-sufficient and build safe communities.

New York, SIMN, Head Office, June 5, 2017 – The Scalabrinian Missionaries are undertaking many projects for migrants all over the world. Their mission is to safeguard the dignity and rights of migrants, vulnerable and marginalized people on the move. The SIMN Leadership Council of Ontario, Canada, is supporting the Scalabrinian programs to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees around the world by promoting an annual charity event in Toronto. 

“SIMN, Ontario Canada Leadership Council Members, Marita Simbul-Lezon, Maria Racco, Rosanne Cortellucci, Father Vincenzo Rosato, Spiritual Director, and I are delighted to have hosted this event. We believe that we have to open our hearts and be advocates towards peaceful existence and providing humanitarian care to the most needy in our world. SIMN is providing the ability for migrants to have “opportunity and capability” which are the two essential pillars in the charity world. The magnanimous generosity of our donors will support diverse projects and will positively impact the lives of victims of human trafficking, refugees and migrants worldwide,” said Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza, Event Organizer of SIMN Leadership Committee.

The Scalabrinian Congregation was founded in 1887 by Blessed Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini to assist millions of Italians who were migrating to the American continent. From the end of the nineteenth century until post-World War II, the Scalabrinians worked to establish parishes, schools, hospitals, migrant service centers, cultural centers, orphanages, nursing homes, cooperatives, migrant associations, and service committees for Italian migrants. During the 1960s, the Scalabrinian Congregation extended its mission to all migrants and expanded its outreach worldwide. As a result, the Congregation’s programs and services have multiplied, especially for the neediest and most vulnerable migrants, refugees, internally displaced people, and seafarers, and have expanded in the areas of research, training, capacity building and advocacy worldwide.

In order to strengthen coordination and networking of these services and to promote political and public awareness of the needs of migrants worldwide, the Scalabrinian Missionaries established the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) in 2007.

SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.