When the return is not just a journey or a stay but a growth. This is the example that Donato Curcio, a Picerno-born entrepreneur who emigrated to the United States in 1951, sets through his support for the football cause of his hometown, Picerno.

Donato Curcio was born in Picerno, Basilicata, in 1942, where he spent his youth until the age of 19 when he decided to emigrate. His journey had several steps: England, France, Switzerland, and finally the United States, specifically Buffalo, where he now lives and has established a company that specializes in the design and production of machines for decorating plastic products.
In Buffalo, Donato’s business and family grew, and despite economic success and various work commitments, he continues to maintain a strong bond with his Lucanian roots and his hometown. Picerno is a small Lucanian town with just over 5000 inhabitants, located a few kilometers from the regional capital.

It is from this unbreakable bond that Donato Curcio decides to invest in the town’s football team and, together with the Municipal Administration, to upgrade the stadium dedicated to him. Az Picerno, the small but mighty club, is now in the Italian third football league “Serie C” and continues to give a dream to the football community in Picerno and Lucania.

Donato Curcio stated in a recent interview with Avvenire, ‘Picerno is, above all, a matter of heart. Giving something back to the town where I was born… I do all this for the passion and nostalgia I have for my town. At night, I dream of Picerno, with its beautiful hills, and good food… I would like to always be there, especially when the team plays…'”