The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation

06/15/2026

❤️ We LOVE to APPRECIATE NATURE with the Staten Island Community ❤️

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation supports our home Borough through grants to nonprofit groups, organizations, and schools within the Staten Island community. Today, we highlight how Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island utilized their Nicotra Foundation grant.

Notre Dame Academy students participated in a Botanical Watercolor Workshop, closely observing plants and their natural details to inspire their own creations. They also took part in a gardening project with a high school mentor, planting and caring for amaryllis bulbs while learning responsibility, patience, and collaboration.

The Nicotra Foundation thanks each organization for making a DIFFERENCE in the community we LOVE. Thank you for making Staten Island a better place. ❤️

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The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation was established in 2008 to create social impact from shore to shore on Staten Island. The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation has awarded more than $1MM in scholarships and grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations on Staten Island, as well as granting scholarships to the Nicotras’ employees’ children and grandchildren as they pursue degrees in higher education. The Nicotra Foundation is fueled by the Nicotras’ two social enterprise eateries, the COMMONS café, and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café, which they own and operate while giving 100% of the profits from each eatery to ‘DO GOOD’ in the Borough they LOVE.



Video courtesy of Kerri Paone

06/10/2026

🎓✨ Celebrating our Spring 2026 Nicotra Scholars! ✨🎓

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation is proud to recognize these outstanding high school seniors as they take the next step toward their futures. Each of these students will be continuing their education or career training locally, pursuing college degrees, technical certifications, and other pathways right here on Staten Island. The Nicotras also proudly continue their tradition of awarding scholarships to the children and grandchildren of Team Nicotra Group employees.

👏 Congratulations to:

Charlie, Afnan, Sara, Julia, Yaeline, Juliana, Deborah, Yamil, Julianna, Mario, Alessandro, Jose, Amanda, Adin, Fjutorima, Matthew, Sofia, Kinz, Anthony, Ella, Logan, Natalie, Stephen, Zoe, Ariana, Abdul-Azi, Xavier, Janelle, Johnavan, Isaiah, Deanna, Mikayla, Brandon, Jonathon, Michell, and Rivindya

Your future is bright, and we are proud to invest in the future of Staten Island.

We LOVE Staten Island! ❤️

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation is doing GOOD for the borough we LOVE! ❤️

At today’s Spring Foundation Awards Ceremony, Lois and Richard Nicotra presented their largest collective award to date - more than $1.5MM benefiting Staten Island nonprofits, students, schools, and local causes! 🎉

🎓 The Lois & Richard Nicotra Scholarship for Staten Island's Future was presented to 32 outstanding high school seniors with a focus on those staying local for college or career training.

Since 2011, The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation has now donated $3.4MM in grants and scholarships to more than 500 organizations, ALL powered by the generosity of the Nicotras who gift 100% of Profits from their COMMONS café and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café. 🍕☕️

We LOVE Staten Island! ❤️

06/01/2026

❤️ We LOVE to create welcoming spaces with the Staten Island Community ❤️

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation supports our home Borough through grants to nonprofit groups, organizations, and schools within the Staten Island community. Today, we highlight how P.S. 32 utilized their Nicotra Foundation grant.

P.S. 32 painted and refreshed their main entrance, creating a welcoming space for students, staff, and families. The updated entrance features words like “Empower”, “Collaboration”, and “Excellence” that reflect the pride and spirit of their school.

The Nicotra Foundation thanks each organization for making a DIFFERENCE in the community we LOVE. Thank you for making Staten Island a better place. ❤️

_________________________________

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation was established in 2008 to create social impact from shore to shore on Staten Island. The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation has awarded more than $1MM in scholarships and grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations on Staten Island, as well as granting scholarships to the Nicotras’ employees’ children and grandchildren as they pursue degrees in higher education. The Nicotra Foundation is fueled by the Nicotras’ two social enterprise eateries, the COMMONS café, and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café, which they own and operate while giving 100% of the profits from each eatery to ‘DO GOOD’ in the Borough they LOVE.



Photo courtesy of Janna Gaudiuso

05/06/2026

Spreading Bubbles of Impact 🫧💚

On behalf of The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation, our Nicotra Group Chief Operating Officer, Kristine Albano Garlisi, visited Constructive Partnerships Unlimited last month to learn more about their impactful work and vibrant community.

During the visit, we were warmly welcomed by their participants and staff, who shared more about their empowering programs to support people with complex needs or housing insecurity. We toured their outdoor garden 🌱, experienced their puppy therapy program 🐾, and were especially touched to receive beautifully handcrafted soaps made by their clients. 🧼✨ We will see hope in every soap bubble!

Thank you for the warm welcome. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect and look forward to growing our partnership! ❤️
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The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation was established in 2008 to create social impact from shore to shore on Staten Island. The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation has awarded more than $1MM in scholarships and grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations on Staten Island, as well as granting scholarships to the Nicotras’ employees’ children and grandchildren as they pursue degrees in higher education. The Nicotra Foundation is fueled by the Nicotras’ two social enterprise eateries, the COMMONS café, and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café, which they own and operate while giving 100% of the profits from each eatery to ‘DO GOOD’ in the Borough they LOVE.

04/20/2026

Blooming with Inspiration 🌸

On behalf of the The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation, our Nicotra Group Chief Operating Officer, Kristine Garlisi, visited P37R’s Great Kills Campus last month to learn more about their incredible school community and the inspiring work happening every day. 🌟

As part of the Read Across America program 📚, we shared a delightful reading session with students as we read The Flower Thief, a perfect way to welcome the Spring season. 🌷☀️

Principal Dr. Cori Regan and the P37R Team led us on a tour of their bustling campus and introduced us to so many inspiring students, staff, paraprofessionals, and family members. From the lively Circus Performance 🎪 to the March Madness family event 🏀 and a stop at a guardianship workshop, we saw firsthand the incredible work they do.

Thank you for the warm welcome. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect and look forward to growing our partnership! ❤️
_________________________________

The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation was established in 2008 to create social impact from shore to shore on Staten Island. The Lois & Richard Nicotra Foundation has awarded more than $1MM in scholarships and grants to more than 400 nonprofit organizations on Staten Island, as well as granting scholarships to the Nicotras’ employees’ children and grandchildren as they pursue degrees in higher education. The Nicotra Foundation is fueled by the Nicotras’ two social enterprise eateries, the COMMONS café, and Pienza Brick Oven Pizza Café, which they own and operate while giving 100% of the profits from each eatery to ‘DO GOOD’ in the Borough they LOVE.