Inspiring the Future: Villa Charities Celebrates 11 Post-Secondary Scholarship Winners Across Canada

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeGlobeNewswireThis section is The content in this section is supplied by GlobeNewswire for the purposes of distributing press releases on behalf of its clients. Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Inspiring the Future: Villa Charities Celebrates 11 Post-Secondary Scholarship Winners Across CanadaAuthor of the article:Charity awards $37K to exceptional students who honour Italian heritage and communityTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountTORONTO, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toronto’s registered charity and non-profit organization Villa Charities is excited to announce the winners of its seventh annual national scholarship program for post-secondary undergraduate and graduate students. The 2026 Villa Charities Scholarship Program launched in May and was open to students of any heritage who help further Villa Charities’ mission of enriching lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage.“We are proud to celebrate the seventh year of the Villa Charities Scholarship Program and the continued enthusiasm it inspires, with more than 500 applications received this year,” said Marco DeVuono, President and CEO, Villa Charities Inc. “The calibre of this year’s applicants reflects the exceptional talent, leadership, and commitment to community among students today. Our 2026 scholarship recipients have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a passion for making a meaningful impact. We are honoured to support them as they pursue their academic goals and future aspirations, while continuing our commitment to investing in education, fostering leadership, and empowering the next generation.”Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe Villa Charities Scholarship Program provides scholarships through Villa Charities Inc. In 2026, eleven scholarships with a total value of $37,000 were awarded in support of undergraduate and graduate-level studies in a variety of disciplines. Since launching the scholarship program in 2020, $324,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 109 deserving students across Canada.Villa Charities announced the eleven winners of their Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships today.Villa Charities Undergraduate Student Scholarship Recipients(Including Masters Insurance Scholarships)Six awards of $2,000 were presented to the following full-time undergraduate students:Liliana Cremonese, University of Western Ontario (Masters Insurance Scholarship recipient)Arabella De Pellegrin, McMaster University (Masters Insurance Scholarship recipient)Ava Marrone, University of Western OntarioDaniel Milone, Wilfred Laurier University (Masters Insurance Scholarship recipient)Olivia Piccolo, University of WaterlooVivian Polesel, University of TorontoVilla Charities Graduate Student Scholarship Recipients (Including Maranello BMW Scholarships)Five awards of $5,000 were presented to the following full-time graduate students:Lauren Carmen Calicchia, University of TorontoJames Capone, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityAmanda Lopresti, King’s School of Social Work – University of Western Ontario (Maranello BMW Scholarship recipient)Adam Luigi Sammarelli, Simon Fraser University – Stephen’s Family School of Medicine (Maranello BMW Scholarship recipient)Melanie Scalera, University of GuelphThis advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.These scholarships were awarded by Villa Charities Foundation to students who are registered, full-time students at an accredited Canadian college or university, are Canadian citizens or have permanent-residence status, and are enrolled for the 2026/2027 academic year. Eligible students were required to demonstrate leadership through community involvement or volunteering, maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher as well as answer questions and write a short essay on how they help further Villa Charities’ mission.Excerpts from two of the scholarship recipients’ applications are included below.My Italian upbringing has shaped how I understand community – not just as shared identity, but as a responsibility to uplift and include everyone as if they were family. Pursuing an Italian Studies minor has allowed me to critically engage with aspects of my culture that I otherwise could not have deeply explored in Canada. Through this experience, I realized a passion for making individual identities more visible in each community I am a part of, supported by my commitment to advocacy. Olivia Piccolo, Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient,University of WaterlooI have been fortunate to grow up in the Villa Charities community, where I experienced how meaningful connections and mentorship can shape an individual’s confidence and sense of belonging. This inspired me to seek opportunities where I could give back and create meaningful connections within my community. Melanie Scalera, Graduate Scholarship Recipient, University of Guelph, Master of ScienceThe selection and adjudication process were conducted by the Villa Charities Scholarship Awards Selection Committee. Scholarships awarded through Villa Charities Foundation will support the students’ tuition fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.For more information about the Villa Charities Scholarship Program, please visit villacharities.com/scholarships or contact Lena Ciccotelli, Director of Development, Villa Charities Foundation at 416-789-7011, ext. 321 / lciccotelli@villacharities.com.There are also opportunities to name a scholarship through sponsoring or alternate funding.About Villa Charities Inc.Villa Charities Inc. (VCI) is a registered charity and non-profit organization that enriches lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage. For more than 50 years across the GTA, Villa Charities has provided cultural and educational programs and supported culturally sensitive long-term care and independent living apartments for seniors. VCI fulfills their mandate through a broad range of activities, services and facilities, both directly and in conjunction with its affiliates and independent organizations. Affiliates include Columbus Centre and Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery; Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. in Toronto; Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre; Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation/Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation with apartments for independent seniors (Caboto Terrace, Casa Del Zotto and Casa Abruzzo); and Leonardo Da Vinci Academy. Each of these organizations is an integral part of the Villa Charities family with separate legal status and its own governance Board. Villa Charities has been certified as a Great Place to Work®, which recognizes the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive, positive and engaging workplace. For more information visit villacharities.com.About Villa Charities FoundationVilla Charities Foundation supports experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage. As the charitable arm of Villa Charities, the Foundation provides crucial funding for areas such as senior care, youth services, education and scholarships, cultural programming, and capital needs. For more information, visit villacharities.com/give.For further information, please contact:Julia KoichopolosMAVERICK Public Relations416-938-2882Julia@wearemaverick.comKathleen Sloan, CMDirector, Marketing and CommunicationsVilla Charities Inc.416-789-7011 Ext. 309ksloan@villacharities.comNotice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.