Courtesy of the NCEA Invest in Education Foundation
Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap. attended the National Catholic Educational Association’s (NCEA) 2026 Gala, “Renewing the Promise,” Oct. 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C., which celebrated individuals whose leadership and service have strengthened Catholic education and expanded opportunities for students and families across the country.
Anthony J. “Tony” de Nicola, a parishioner in the Diocese of Venice and Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Invest in Education Foundation, received the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to Catholic education and his success in expanding educational opportunities for children and families. His recognition by NCEA reflects a commitment shared throughout the Catholic community: helping ensure more families have the opportunity to choose an education rooted in faith for their children.
“Tony’s receipt of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is a fitting recognition of his extraordinary commitment to Catholic education and his many years of service to children and families,” Bishop Emilio said. “Through his tireless efforts, more parents have the ability to choose an education rooted in faith for their children. We are proud to have Tony as a member of the Diocese of Venice and grateful for his leadership and generosity. The impact he continues to make on Catholic education and the lives of families across the country is profound.”
De Nicola and his wife, Christie, live on Manasota Key and are parishioners of Epiphany Cathedral, Venice. The de Nicola’s have grandchildren who attend Catholic school in the diocese, and they have been important leaders and supporters of the diocese for many years. Tony spent 35 years as a business leader in New York, where he has been president and managing partner, and now chairman of the private investment firm, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.
Since he co-founded Invest in Education in 2012, de Nicola has worked to increase scholarships for more children to access a Catholic education. Invest in Education, which he chairs, led the national effort to successfully pass the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program (FSTC) into law. He also serves on the boards of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund and The Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of New York, in addition to several other roles with the New York archdiocese.
Also honored was His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, who received NCEA’s Seton Lifetime of Service Award, recognizing his decades of service to the Church and longstanding commitment to Catholic education. Cardinal Dolan and de Nicola have worked very closely for the past 18 years, and their collaboration on leading the effort to pass the FSTC is a testament to both of their commitments to the future of Catholic education.
“Tony has been an invaluable partner in securing the historic passage of the FSTC program, which can be transformational for Catholic schools across the country,” Cardinal Dolan said. “His leadership at Invest in Education over the past 15 years has been extraordinary. His vision, strategic direction, and tireless devotion were essential in the passage of the law, but most importantly, his collaboration with dozens of organizations across the country, including all the faith communities and school choice organizations created a coordinated movement that convinced policy-makers in Washington D.C. that the moment was at hand to pass the first-ever, federal tax credit program to benefit education and families across the country,” the Cardinal continued. “Tony is a dear friend, advisor, and deeply faithful man who has put his money, his time, and his talents to work for the Church and for the country. We are all enormously grateful for his leadership in this effort.”
The honors come at an important moment for Catholic education with the creation of the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, set to take effect January 1, 2027. The program established a new federal individual income tax credit for qualifying contributions of up to $1,700 (or $3,400 for married joint tax filers) to scholarship granting organizations, creating another avenue for private charitable giving to support K–12 scholarships.
For the Catholic community, the program presents a significant opportunity to build upon its tradition of supporting families who seek a Catholic education for their children. That opportunity is especially relevant in Florida, which has elected to participate in the new federal program beginning in 2027.
The NCEA is a strong supporter of the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program and is working to educate the Catholic school community about the opportunities it can provide for families seeking Catholic education. The NCEA is encouraging every Catholic taxpayer to take advantage of this tax credit program to help their local or diocesan Catholic schools.
Father. John Belmonte, S.J., Ph.D., Superintendent of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Venice stated, “Bishop Emilio and I were honored to join Tony and Christie at the NCEA Gala to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of Tony’s extraordinary commitment to Catholic education. I have had the privilege of knowing Tony and seeing firsthand the generosity, conviction and sense of purpose he brings to this work. Through his leadership with Invest in Education and his service to the Diocese of Venice, Tony has been an effective advocate for expanding educational opportunities and helping more families access a Catholic education for their children. The Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is a fitting tribute to the impact he has made—and continues to make—for students and families in Venice and across the country.”
The 2026 NCEA Gala brought together more than 500 Catholic educators, Church leaders, benefactors, and friends from across the country to recognize extraordinary service and look toward the future of Catholic education. As NCEA approaches 125 years of service, the evening celebrated a shared commitment to expanding access, supporting Catholic school leaders, and helping Catholic school communities flourish for generations to come.
