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How senit foundation made its new partner
After successful treatment of his illness Gerry Deeney undertook the task of setting up Senit Foundation, a Charity that would benefit the people and the researchers of the Clyde Valley and beyond. Gerry did not imagine that in a short time his “beyond” would stretch as far as Naples, Italy.
In fact, one of the consultants looking after him, Dr Paul RJ Ames, had begun his career in Naples and after posts in England found himself on the banks of the Clyde in early January 2005. The encounter between an enthusiast patient and doctor fostered a fruitful link that is leading to the creation of a Research Foundation in Naples of which Senit will be one of the Founding Members.
Contrary to the UK, where charitable donations via Gift Aid are entirely tax deducible with the 28% added courtesy of the British Government, in Italy tax deducible charitable donations cannot exceed £50,000 or maximum 10% of your income, whichever the highest. This is a huge restriction shown in the percentage of research contributed by donations: x in UK and only y in Italy.
An entrepreneurial accountant in Naples, Mr Franco Gentile has got round to the Italian system by setting up Charitable Accountants Ltd; given that the Italian Revenue pays 15 euros to the accountancy firm for each tax form submitted, Charitable Accountants Ltd gives back 5 euros to each person who uses its firm but that person must contribute 1 euro to a charity of their liking. In addition, Charitable Accountants Ltd will give 4% of its profit to its own Charitable Enterprise (www.oasifelice.it) which will administer the funds so generated to support scientific research and an orphanage in Hebo, Eritrea (Africa). To appreciate the charitable potential, one only needs to apply the system to firms and companies with thousands of employees.
So what? Well, Senit will become a founding member of the nascent Foundation in Naples alongside a few Neapolitan patients and doctors including Dr Ames himself and the Charitable Enterprise (www.oasifelice.it). More than merely supporting research this Foundation in the making hopes to generate co-operation between institutions across the two countries.
To take the collaboration one step further, Dr Ames has given Senit Foundation the rights, under a Charitable Agreement, to collect as Gift Aid the 10% booking fee of his son’s Bed & Breakfast (Self Catering) in Naples (www.alcentroemeglio.it) from any Scottish or British tourist who wishes to visit Naples.
Scots are not new to Naples: early in the 18th Century a Scottish Vessel wrecked in the Straits of Procida: those who survived the wreck lived on the island and married local girls, giving origin to the double surname that incorporates “Scotto of…..” that means “from a Scotsman”. On the other hand, Naples was one of the Scottish trading posts in the Mediterranean Sea, and it would not be a surprise that some Scotsmen met some lively and attractive beauties and settled in the Neapolitan area.