Ennobled by the participation of more than three hundred people including federal, cantonal and municipal political authorities, business and financial leaders, sponsor, executives and sympathizers, the annual gala dinner jointly sponsored by the Golden Wings Club (GWC) ofHockey Club Lugano and the HC Lugano Academy Foundation was held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the Conza Pavilion in Lugano.
The evening, now in its ninth edition, proved to be a great success again this year, evidenced by the record net proceeds for the event of 100,000 francs that the Foundation HC Lugano Academy," led by President Avv. Massimo Pedrazzini, was able to donate to the Youth Section of the HCL, the ultimate beneficiary of the gala.
An achievement also made possible thanks to the silent auction of a Manero Flyback model chronograph watch by the prestigious Carl F. Bucherer brand and the struck auction of a number of exclusive items that caught the attention of those present, including the sculpture "Danae," a unique bronze piece created by artist Irena Dragova, and a signature shot on the Engadine theme by the highly regarded photographer Marco D'Anna.
Conducted with customary elegance by Sandy Altermatt, the evening was enlivened by the sometimes salacious satire of the trio formed by Nicolò Casolini, Paolo Guglielmoni, and Joas Balmelli, who did not hesitate to poke fun at the many well-known personalities in the audience.
These are the words of Andrea Gehri, president of the Golden Wings Club (GWC) of the HCL: "I am extremely satisfied with the success of the event that, after the last edition held in Sopraceneri, this year we wanted to bring back to Lugano. The participation of the entire U17 Elit team of the youth sector bianconero made the aims of the evening tangible, and the prestigious parterre responded again this time with generosity and enthusiasm."
Photo caption (@HC Lugano): from left on the Conza Pavilion stage, Alessandro Chiesa (Head of Junior Department HCL) with a delegation of the U17 Elit team and its head coach Jason Fritsche, sidled in the center, Andrea Gehri (President Golden Wings Club) and Massimo Pedrazzini (President HC Lugano Academy Foundation).