The Catholic education community gathered in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5 for the National Catholic Educational Association’s 2026 Gala, “Renewing the Promise,” to celebrate individuals whose leadership and service have strengthened Catholic education and expanded opportunities for students and families.

This year’s celebration had a special connection to the Archdiocese of New York. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop emeritus of New York, received NCEA’s Seton Lifetime of Service Award, which recognized his decades of service to the Church and longstanding commitment to Catholic education.

Also, Anthony J. “Tony” de Nicola, chairman of the board and co-founder of Invest in Education Foundation, received the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which honored his longtime support for Catholic education and his role in expanding educational opportunity. De Nicola has worked for years to expand access to scholarships and serves on the boards of both the Inner-City Scholarship Fund and The Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese of New York.

Federal tax credit to expand scholarships

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 into law. The program, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, establishes 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.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks said, “Catholic education has the extraordinary ability to form young people in faith, knowledge and service, and its strength depends on leaders who believe deeply in that mission. I congratulate Cardinal Dolan and Tony de Nicola on these well-deserved honors from the National Catholic Educational Association. Cardinal Dolan’s steadfast leadership and commitment to Catholic education have touched countless students and families in New York and across the country, while Tony’s generosity and tireless advocacy have helped expand educational opportunities for children and strengthen Catholic schools. We are grateful for their leadership, their service to the Church and, most importantly, their shared commitment to ensuring that future generations of students have the opportunity to benefit from a Catholic education.”

Opportunity for Catholic families

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.

The National Catholic Educational Association 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.

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.