Rome, April 9, 2026 – The Acea Foundation, a new Third Sector entity, has been officially launched in Rome. The foundation aims to protect and promote the historical, industrial, and cultural heritage of Acea, a company founded in Rome in 1909 by Mayor Ernesto Nathan and Technology Services Councillor Giovanni Montemartini. The initiative seeks to support the transformation of the Capital City.
Six Strategic Areas for Social and Cultural Value
Beyond preserving Acea’s historical assets, the new foundation is committed to generating social and cultural value in Rome and other cities where the group operates. It plans to achieve this by promoting initiatives targeting youth, sports, corporate volunteering, solidarity, culture, research, and training.
The foundation’s activities will be structured around six strategic areas:
- Art and Culture
- Environment
- Sport and Health
- School
- Social Promotion
- Urban Regeneration
A particular emphasis will be placed on education regarding water-related issues within the ‘School’ area, identified as a core pillar of the project. These diverse fields are designed to be interconnected, fostering new forms of participation and enhanced collective awareness.
The foundation’s vision is rooted in the belief that educating for the future involves learning to imagine it. Art is proposed as a tool for knowledge, capable of connecting different generations and languages, and making sustainability a tangible and shared experience.
Preserving Acea’s Historical Heritage
Another key mandate for the foundation is the valorization of Acea’s corporate historical heritage. This heritage was recently showcased in the “Heritage” exhibition, which was a finalist in the Cultura+Impresa 2025-2026 Awards. Additionally, the foundation plans to develop the corporate historical archive, linking industrial memory, urban identity, and future planning.
Governance and Leadership
The Acea Foundation, headquartered in Piazzale Ostiense, was a strong initiative championed by Acea President Barbara Marinali and CEO Fabrizio Palermo.
The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Ignazio Vacca, Acea’s Chief Institutional Affairs & B.D. Officer. The board members include Giuseppe Del Villano, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, and Sabrina Fiorino, Head of Cultural Initiatives at Acea. Lawyer Carlo Geronimo Cardia has been appointed as the supervisory body, also responsible for the foundation’s statutory audit functions.
Palermo: “Water Education is the Heart of the Project”
During the presentation, Fabrizio Palermo, Acea’s CEO, described the new entity as “an open laboratory that connects creativity, art, and corporate social responsibility.”
“It is an institution where art serves as the link between tradition and innovation. It is also a physical space where it will be possible to discover how Acea has contributed to the economic, social, and civil growth of our country, telling its story through objects, documents, and works that enhance industrial and cultural heritage,” Palermo stated.
He further emphasized the central role of water: “Education on the value of water is the heart of the project: understanding the importance of this resource means understanding the balance between the environment, the city, and the community, forming new, more aware generations.”
Source: https://www.lacapitale.it/articolo/fondazione-acea-roma-acqua-giovani-innovazione
