ITALIAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION AT CASA BELVEDERE
FOURTH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

 Creating Opportunity. Honoring Heritage. Investing in the Future.

For generations, Italian American families have believed deeply in the transformative power of education — not simply as a means to a degree, but as the surest path to opportunity, dignity, and upward mobility. At Casa Belvedere, that belief is not symbolic. It is lived, practiced, and intentionally passed forward.

The Scholarship Fund is rooted in the lives of Vito and Rosalia Biancardi, Italian immigrants and the parents of Casa Belvedere Founder and President, Gina Biancardi. Like so many before them, Vito and Rosalia came to America with little more than determination and hope. They worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much because they believed — above all else — that education was the one force capable of changing the trajectory of their children’s future.

For Vito and Rosalia, education was not optional. It was sacred. It represented freedom, stability, and possibility — the one inheritance they could give that would last a lifetime. That belief shaped their family, and it ultimately inspired a broader commitment to education, culture, community, and opportunity through Casa Belvedere.

The College-Bound Scholarship Program

The Italian Cultural Foundation College-Bound Scholarship Program, established in 2023, was created to honor the legacy of immigrant families who came to this country with little more than a dollar and a dream for a better life. Today, the program supports exceptional college-bound students of Italian American heritage, recognizing academic excellence, leadership, service, and character — while helping to ease the financial burden of higher education.

In 2026, Casa Belvedere proudly enters the fourth year of this scholarship commitment, awarding two $10,000 scholarships annually, each distributed at $2,500 per year over four years.

With the addition of the 2026 recipients, Casa Belvedere will have pledged a total of $80,000 in scholarship funding, supporting eight outstanding students on their collegiate journeys.

This is not a one-time award. It is a sustained investment in young people who represent the future of leadership, service, and cultural stewardship.

Our Scholarship Funds

The Italian Cultural Foundation Scholarship

Founded in 2023, this scholarship reflects Casa Belvedere’s mission to preserve Italian American heritage while fostering academic achievement and civic leadership. It offers members and supporters the opportunity to directly invest in the next generation of scholars and changemakers.

The Vito and Rosalia Biancardi Memorial Scholarship

Also established in 2023, the Vito and Rosalia Biancardi Memorial Scholarship honors the enduring belief that education is the great equalizer. Funded annually by the Biancardi family, it carries forward Vito and Rosalia’s unwavering commitment to education — ensuring that their values continue to open doors for future generations of Italian American students.

Scholarship Awards & Structure

  • Two scholarships awarded annually
  • $10,000 per student, paid at $2,500 per year for up to four years
  • Renewal contingent upon maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA
  • Students submit one application and are considered for both scholarships
  • Prior recipients from 2023, 2024, and 2025 continue to receive renewal awards if eligibility is maintained

Selection Criteria

  • Applications are evaluated by the Scholarship Committee based on:
  • Academic achievement and merit
  • Leadership and community involvement
  • Extracurricular and service activities
  • Strength, originality, and insight of required essays
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Demonstrated financial need

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Be of Italian American heritage (at least 50%)
  • Be a high school senior accepted into an accredited college or university for Fall 2025
  • Maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA (verified by official transcript)
  • Be sponsored by a Casa Belvedere member in good standing. The sponsoring member may be a relative, friend, educator, or business associate connected to the applicant’s parent.
  • Reside in the New York Tri-State area
  • Demonstrate financial need (submit 2025 1040 tax return with Social Security numbers redacted)
  • Participate in a finalist interview (in person or via Zoom)

Renewal Requirements

To receive annual renewal awards, recipients must:

  • Remain enrolled full-time
  • Maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: Friday, May 9, 2026
  • Final Selection: May 30, 2026
  • Recipients Notified: By phone call and mail

Scholarship Award Ceremony

  • Recipients will be formally recognized at a special ceremony at Casa Belvedere scheduled for June 23, 2026 (date subject to change).
  • Attendance is required.

Application Submission Overview

All materials must be emailed to scholarships@casa-belvedere.org with the student’s name in the subject line.

Required Materials Include:

  • Online application (via portal)
  • Essays (PDF)
  • Letters of recommendation (submitted directly by referee)
  • Official transcript
  • Redacted parents’ 2024 1040 tax return
  • Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • FAFSA confirmation

Contact Information

For questions or assistance:
Audrey Urcia
The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere
Audrey@Casa-Belvedere.org
718-273-7660

APPLY HERE