PROCEEDS FROM TRICOLORE MASKS DONATED TO ST LOUIS - BOLOGNA SISTER CITIES

​MICHAEL J CROSS
President of St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

---

Caroline Williard is a professional seamstress well known for her elegant dresses in fashion shows and pageants across the U.S. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating face masks probably wouldn't have crossed her mind and making Italian Tricolore face masks would have most likely been considered a joke. In fact, creative face masks were almost nonexistent before the virus. Yet here we are. Today, one can find masks in every color, size, and with every pattern imaginable.

Three weeks ago, what began as a fun experiment for Caroline, has led to a steady stream of business. She began creating custom masks with various themes for a few friends. When a friend inquired about making a Italian tricolore mask, she agreed to make a few not knowing there would be such a great demand for them. Since then, just in the past couple weeks, she has sold over 150 Italian Tricolore masks to individuals and companies from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. Around St Louis, the face masks have been popping up everywhere. Ionia Atlantic Imports, an importer of Italian wines, purchased the masks for all their employees. They can be seen delivering wines showing off the colors of the Italian flag all around the city.

15% of Caroline's sales are being donated to the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities, a non-profit organization which fosters mutually beneficial relations in economic development, education, art, and culture between St Louis and Bologna. It is often during the most difficult times that individuals like Caroline become the most generous. On behalf of the entire Italian community in St Louis, and in particular, of the Sister Cities organization, we wish to thank Caroline for her generosity and wish her the best of success in her profession.