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 Italian Cultural Foundation College-Bound Scholars Program 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, discipline, and hope. They worked tirelessly and sacrificed without complaint 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 ultimately inspired a broader commitment to education, culture, community, and opportunity through Casa Belvedere.

The College-Bound Scholarship Program

Established in 2023, the Italian Cultural Foundation College-Bound Scholars Program 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 three $10,000 scholarships annually, each distributed at $2,500 per year over four years.

With the addition of the 2026 recipients and the launch of the Connie Profaci Scholarship, Casa Belvedere will have committed a total of $90,000 in active scholarship funding, supporting nine 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 — the same values Vito and Rosalia Biancardi held dear.

Our Scholarship Funds

The Italian Cultural Foundation College-Bound Scholars Program includes three named scholarships, all awarded through a single application process and unified selection standards.

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

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 their values continue to open doors for future generations of Italian American students.

Established by the Profaci family, this scholarship honors Connie Profaci’s extraordinary life, entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, resilience, and lasting impact on the Staten Island community, particularly as demonstrated through her decades-long leadership in the real estate profession

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 essay
• Letters of recommendation
• Demonstrated financial need

Scholarship Awards & Structure

• Three 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 all applicable scholarships
• Prior recipients from 2023, 2024, and 2025 continue to receive renewal awards if eligibility is maintained.

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 2026
• 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 2026 1040 tax return with Social Security numbers redacted)
• Write an essay of approximately 500-750 words (see prompt)
• Participate in a finalist interview (in person or via Zoom)

Essay Prompt

Applicant essays must reflect on one or more of the following:

• A time you demonstrated leadership, independence, or initiative
• How hard work, perseverance, or responsibility has shaped who you are today
• Your long-term academic or career goals and how this scholarship would support them
• How you hope to make a meaningful impact in your profession or community

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 8, 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)
• 500–750-word Essay (PDF)
• Letter 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:
Dawn Daniels
The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere
Dawn@Casa-Belvedere.org
718-273-7660