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

Charity awards $37K to exceptional students who honour Italian heritage and community

TORONTO, 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.”

The 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 Ontario
• Daniel Milone, Wilfred Laurier University (Masters Insurance Scholarship recipient)
• Olivia Piccolo, University of Waterloo
• Vivian Polesel, University of Toronto

Villa 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 Toronto
• James Capone, Toronto Metropolitan University
• Amanda 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 Guelph
  

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 Waterloo

I 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 Science
  

The 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 Foundation
Villa 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 Koichopolos
MAVERICK Public Relations
416-938-2882
Julia@wearemaverick.com

Kathleen Sloan, CM
Director, Marketing and Communications
Villa Charities Inc.
416-789-7011 Ext. 309
ksloan@villacharities.com