Last Monday, the "Teatro alla Scala Association of America", the only American nonprofit association recognized and supported by the La Scala Opera Foundation, was born in New York, with the aim of financially supporting its activities, but also of spreading awareness of its work and productions in the United States, thus broadening its base of U.S. audiences and supporters. It was an idea born out of the observation that La Scala's audience is 30 percent foreign visitors, with the largest group (14 percent) coming from the United States, a country that enjoys significant tax benefits for those who choose to financially support art and culture. Hence the decision by Superintendent Dominique Meyer and his staff: "We know that La Scala can count on an important contribution from private individuals, who are bringing €43 million to the Foundation this year (out of a projected budget of €127.4 million). Most of these resources come from sponsors and businesses, but also from many private citizens; therefore, we thought we would push in this direction," Meyer explains. In the preparation phase, Scala was assisted in legal aspects by the law firm Withers (which has offices both in Milan and in several U.S. cities), while for financial and banking aspects it was helped by Intesa Sanpaolo New York. Milena Sheynkman, a former supporter of Piermarini, will be president of the association, while Giorgio Armani, is its first honorary member.