Don Luigi Portarulo is an Italian priest from the Vatican who serves as a pastor for Italian communities in New York City, leading Italian Masses at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Catheredal. He arrived in New York in 2022 to revitalize the community and has been instrumental in various cultural events in the city since then.

A former player for the Vatican National Soccer Team, he brings the same spirit of teamwork and dedication to his ministry and social projects. In 2023, together with close friends, he co-founded the Grow Together Foundation.

Luca Lupi is a Senior Engineer and Project Manager at Bizzi & Partners in NYC.

As a professional engineer, Luca has built a career around problem-solving and innovation. With a collaborative spirit and a commitment to making a difference, he supports the Grow Together Foundation by bringing structure, practicality, and forward-thinking solutions to its projects.

Paolo Garlasché is an architectural designer and consultant who manages design projects across all phases—from schematic planning through construction — especially for mid- to large-scale developments.

He has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and contributed to the architectural identity of key public and private projects.

He contributes his vision and expertise to the Grow Together Foundation, helping transform ideas into tangible initiatives.

With over two decades of experience across the corporate and nonprofit sectors, Danila brings deep expertise in corporate governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and international legal matters.

Danila is also a Partner and Co-Chair of the International Practice at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in New York City, where she advises clients on complex corporate matters, with an emphasis on cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

At Grow Together, Danila oversees all legal, governance, and compliance functions, ensuring the foundation’s activities advance its mission while maintaining the highest ethical and regulatory standards.

Francesco Cacchioli is the Director of Marketing and Sustainability for MSC Crociere in NYC, where he oversees operational strategy, supply chain logistics, and cross-regional project execution. He has led initiatives to streamline processes, enhance performance metrics, and support the organization’s expansion with sustainable systems and scalable solutions.

As a Chairman of Grow Together, Francesco helps shape practical, sustainable solutions to expand the reach and impact of the Foundation’s projects.

With an extensive career in commercial real estate, Diego now serves as SVP and Head of Real Estate for North America at EssilorLuxottica. Prior to this role, he spent almost two decades at the NYC headquarters of Cushman & Wakefield. Through his tenure at C&W, he has been supporting multinational corporations and institutions develop and implementing their Commercial Real Estate strategies across different service lines and asset classes, spanning through numerous markets and regions.

At the Grow Together Foundation, Diego offers to leverage his strategic insight, negotiation skills, and overall real estate experience to support sustainable projects that require site selection, facility planning, or physical infrastructure.

As a Senior Credit & Accounting Manager at Loro Piana, Annachiara Favretto has developed deep expertise in luxury textiles, product development, and supplier relations, ensuring uncompromising standards of quality and innovation.

As Treasurer of the Grow Together Foundation, she applies this same rigor and precision to financial stewardship, overseeing resources with transparency and responsibility. Her ability to balance creativity with operational discipline makes her a vital contributor to the Foundation’s mission, supporting the sustainable growth of projects that strengthen communities and create lasting impact.

Luigi Bucceri is an International Tax Lawyer based in New York and serves as Partner-Principal at Ernst & Young (EY), where he leads the firm’s US VAT National Tax Technology practice. In this capacity, Luigi spearheads complex, large-scale transformation initiatives across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LATAM—helping multinational organizations modernize tax operations and optimize global supply chains through automation and integrated technology solutions.

Recognized as a thought leader in tax and technology, Luigi is frequently invited to present and facilitate sessions at leading international tax and technology conferences worldwide, sharing insights on digital transformation, compliance innovation, and operational efficiency.

Beyond his professional role, Luigi is a co-founder of the Grow Together Foundation, where he plays a critical role in aligning governance and operations with the organization’s mission.