The love for education is often symbolized by a flame. It’s a fire fueled by curiosity and a burning desire to put knowledge to good use. NOIA members Rocco and Joan DiLillo strongly support those passionate about learning. The couple recently made a generous financial contribution to the NOIA Leadership Scholarship Fund, which enables area students to achieve their dreams of attending a Catholic high school. 

Rocco, who owned and operated several companies, noticed throughout his career that many local companies were headed by people who received a Catholic education. Joan says, “It’s both Rocco's and my experience that to help teens grow into caring, courageous, and confident adults who contribute to society, we believe a Christian education really helps teens in that self-actualization process. It really teaches teens the best chance at finding fulfillment and success.”

A professional educator herself, Joan says the couple was looking for a scholastic program that lights the internal flame for those students who, if given the opportunity, will create something exciting. Rocco points out, “When it comes to education, it doesn't take much to figure out that the best you can do for almost any charitable group is help a young person realize their full potential and to give them a great start.”

Rocco believes there are three legs to the stool of life, representing your intellectual, physical, and spiritual sides. And to be successful, you need to work and develop all three. “Catholic schools prepare young people for that spiritual or ‘values’ side as well,” he says.

The DiLillos have committed to funding five NOIA-titled scholarships over the next four years but hope that membership contributions will grow larger in the coming years. Rocco says, “It's our dream, our hope, and our vision to expand the program in the future.” 

To qualify for a NOIA scholarship, students must meet several eligibility requirements, including a 3.0 GPA. The family must also demonstrate financial need. Scholarship winners are then selected based on the quality of a written essay expressing their pride in their Italian American heritage and why they want to attend Catholic high school. 

Joan reports that the selection process has been difficult because each one of the candidates is so articulate. Reflecting on this past year’s entries, Joan says, “I just can't tell you how exciting it is to read these essays about how earnest the students are and how eager they are to secure a place in a Catholic high school.” Joan adds she had such a hard time eliminating anyone that the selection committee resorted to creating a waiting list instead.

Rocco praises NOIA as an organization that readily supports the positives of Italian American heritage. “There are so many wonderful Italian Americans in Northeast Ohio, and this program has brought me closer to them to better understand who they are as people and to build lasting relationships,” says Rocco.

Rocco plans to meet with area high school principals to better understand their challenges, what they need, and how to get seventh and eighth graders to apply for this program. “I want to understand the structure and the mechanism as it sits now to learn how we could leverage our program best for these young people,” says Rocco.

On the future of the NOIA Scholarship fund, Rocco points out, “Everybody in NOIA can make a contribution to this wonderful goal. We can structure it so everyone can get in the game, and they can do it on their terms, over the time frame that meets their financial budget. Everyone can make a difference.”

A parting thought from Rocco, “Socrates said education is the flame. If we can help that flame grow and become stronger and these young people gain a better sense of purpose and a higher confidence of what's important in life, what could be more gratifying than that?”

Learn more about the NOIA Leadership Scholarship Fund at noiafoundation.com/scholarships or contact our executive director Angie Spitalieri Ianiro at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..