Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 Celebrates Family Around the Italian Table

By Catherine CaseWednesday, August 12, 2026

There’s something special about gathering around an Italian table with good food, good friends, and plenty of laughter.

Our recent Saturday Family Italian Dinner brought Buona Fortuna members and guests together for a wonderful homemade meal prepared by Ken and Phyllis Baker and an evening filled with true famiglia.

Read more about this memorable Lodge gathering and the many people who helped make it such a success.

Fall 2026 Charitable Giving: Nominate a Local Charity by October 1

By Rachelle Gregorio TorjusenWednesday, August 12, 2026

Buona Fortuna is preparing for our Fall 2026 Charitable Giving awards, and members are invited to nominate a deserving local 501(c)(3) organization for consideration.

Nominations are due Thursday, October 1, 2026, and may be submitted through the Charity Request application on the Buona Fortuna website.

Your nominations help us continue putting the funds raised through Festa Italiana and our other community events to work supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in Northwest Florida.

Read on to learn how to submit your nomination, what information you’ll need, and which organizations are eligible for consideration.

It's time for Buona Fortuna to prepare for our Fall Charitable Giving awards! The deadline for the Fall Charity nominations is Thursday, October 1, 2026. You can submit nominations for charities through our member application portal.

If you would like to submit a charity (local 501(c)3 organization) for consideration in our Fall Charitable donations funding round, please submit your recommendations through the Buona Fortuna Charity Request application form.

To find the application on our website: go to the Buona Fortuna Lodge website; select "Charity" at the top right; scroll down to where it says: "Application"; click on the red text that says: "Charity Request".

Prior to accessing the application, we recommend that you search for the organization using this link, Tax Exempt Organization Search and search by Organization Name to obtain their EIN number and a copy of their determination letter. You should be prepared to submit this information along with the charity's website or Facebook page URL, their address, and contact information for the organization. Be sure to provide all necessary information, so our Charity Committee can make an informed decision.

Your volunteer efforts and participation at Gallery Night, Seafood Festival, and most importantly, Festa Italiana, help our Lodge raise funds for charitable purposes, including youth scholarships, local and regional non-profit organizations, Communities Caring at Christmas, and charities supported by our Florida Grand Lodge.

As we prepare for Festa Italiana this October, we’re inviting our members to volunteer and help make this year’s celebration our best yet. Your time and support directly strengthen our lodge, our heritage, and our community. If you can lend a hand, whether for an hour or a full day, we would truly appreciate it. We welcome and encourage members to invite their friends and family to volunteer with us. Festa Italiana is even more enjoyable when shared, and we appreciate every extra set of hands. Please reach out to Rosie Gasowski, Festa Volunteer Lead, at 850-384-5365, or myself. Grazie!

We appreciate your membership and all you do to support our efforts to not only give back to our community, but also share the abundant love of our Italian culture.

Charity Submission Information to Gather:
Below are the questions you will need to complete. They are all mandatory except the last question (4 (e)).
**Please provide as much detail as possible so the Charity Committee can make an informed decision.

1. Your e-mail

2. Please read the Guidelines for Charity Nominations and Selections before clicking the Next button.

3. Charity Information
a. Charity's Full Legal Name
b. Charity’s Legal Address
c. Charity's Website
d. Person's attention to which the check should be mailed
e. Charity Contact Phone Number
f. Charity Contact Email Address
g. Donation Amount Requested
h. Check Delivery Preference: Hand Deliver Check/Mail Check
i. Charity’s EIN Number with IRS. Please go to this link, search for the charity, and ensure the field that states: On Publication 78 Data List: says Yes.
j. Please give a brief explanation of why Buona Fortuna should give to this charity.
Also include:
i. If applicable, what is your connection to the charity?
ii. If selected, how will the charity use the donation?
iii. Is the charity local to Northwest Florida?
iv. Include other pertinent information you think the Charity Committee might be able to use in their deliberations. Be as specific as possible. (Ex. Charity’s mission or objective; Services provided by charity; Number of people served by charity).

4. Member Submitting Request
a. Buona Fortuna Member's Name
b. Buona Fortuna Member';s Phone Number
c. Are you in good standing with the Lodge? Yes/No
d. Is there any additional information you would like the Charity Committee to have?
e. Upload any files you think the Charity Committee would find useful in their deliberations.

If your charity is selected for funding, you will be asked to:

1. Coordinate with the Charity Committee Chair(s) and your charity to schedule either a photo shoot with the charity or have them present at one of our General Meetings.
2. Submit a charity write-up that will be shared on social media and to Lodge membership.
3. Inquire with the charity if our Lodge can be featured on their website.

Please note, the charities listed below were funded during the Spring 2026 round of charities and will not be eligible during this Fall 2026 round of nominations.

-Youths Left Behind
-Navarre Community Outreach
-West Florida Soccer Club
-Italian Cultural Society of Pensacola, Florida, Inc.
-Totally Flocked Inc
-WEAC Warrington Emergency Aid Center
-TRAUMA RELEASE INVEST INC
-Pink Pirates of Navarre
-Hope Above Fear

*If you have any questions about the application process or would like to join the Charity Committee, feel free to reach out to me, contact info below.

Grazie,
Rachelle Torjusen
Buona Fortuna Charity Committee Chair
228-282-5038
rachelle.buonafortuna@gmail.com

Silent Auction 2026: The Heart of Our Success Starts With You

By Ginny BarberiWednesday, June 17, 2026

One of the highlights of every Festa Italiana is our Silent Auction. Year after year, the auction attracts enthusiastic bidders, creates excitement throughout the festival, and raises important funds that support the work of Buona Fortuna Lodge.

What makes it successful isn't just the bidding—it's the creativity, generosity, and community spirit of our members and Friends of the Lodge who donate the amazing items that fill our auction tables.

The Heart of Our Silent Auction Starts With You

Every year at Festa Italiana, one of the most popular attractions is our Silent Auction. Guests gather around the tables, comparing bids, discovering unique treasures, and often returning several times throughout the day to see if they've been outbid. It's fun, exciting, and it raises important funds that help support the mission of Buona Fortuna Lodge.

But what truly makes our Silent Auction successful isn't the bidding.

It's the creativity, generosity, and support of our Lodge members and Friends of the Lodge.

Over the years, our members have donated everything from themed gift baskets and handcrafted items to vacation experiences, specialty foods, wine collections, sports memorabilia, artwork, and unique one-of-a-kind treasures. Some of our most successful auction items started with a simple idea and a little imagination.

Now is the time to begin gathering items for our 2026 Silent Auction.

As you shop throughout the year, travel, attend events, or discover something special, please consider setting it aside for Festa Italiana. New items are always appreciated, and creative themed baskets continue to be some of our most popular auction packages.

I also encourage you to reach out to businesses you know and support. Local restaurants, retailers, service providers, spas, golf courses, professional offices, and community businesses are often willing to contribute gift certificates, products, services, or experiences when asked by someone they know.

Every donation, large or small, helps us create an auction that attracts bidders, generates excitement, and raises funds that support our Lodge activities, scholarships, charitable giving, and community outreach efforts.

Together, we can make the 2026 Silent Auction our best one yet.

Please bring your donations to our upcoming meetings:

Buona Fortuna General Meeting
Thursday, July 9 | 6:00 PM

Festa Italiana Planning Meeting
Sunday, July 12 | 2:00 PM

If you are unable to attend either meeting, I would be happy to arrange a pickup or coordinate a convenient drop-off location.

If you have an item to donate, ideas for a basket, or would like assistance approaching a business for a contribution, please contact me:

Ginny Barberi
Silent Auction Chair – Festa Italiana 2026
buonafortunapresident@gmail.com
(850) 944-4554
5853 Westshore Drive, Pensacola, FL 32526

Thank you for helping make Festa Italiana a success. Together, we'll create another outstanding Silent Auction for our community and our Buona Fortuna Family.

Buona Fortuna Lodge

Festa Italiana

Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro

Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 Celebrates Family Around the Italian Table

Fall 2026 Charitable Giving: Nominate a Local Charity by October 1

Silent Auction 2026: The Heart of Our Success Starts With You

The Heart of Our Silent Auction Starts With You

Buona Fortuna Activities

Festa Italiana 2022

Seafood Festival 2021

Festa della Pizza

Wahoos Baseball

Bocce By The Sea

Holiday Parties