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The basics:

• Annual golf outing raises $100,000+ for scholarships
• Funds support students at 12 New Jersey educational institutions
• Cento Amici‘s endowment fund nearing $1 million
• Organization raises $300,000-$500,000 annually through key events

For nearly four decades, Cento Amici has turned friendship into opportunity, guided by a simple but enduring belief: education changes lives.

That mission was on full display at the 38th Annual Thomas W. Zito Golf Classic, where members, sponsors, golfers and supporters gathered at Maplewood Country Club and raised more than $100,000 to support need-based scholarships for students across New Jersey. NJBIZ was on hand for the annual event June 8.

The impact of the day extends far beyond the fairways. Every sponsorship, auction bid, and donation helps create educational opportunities for students at 12 institutions throughout the state, including Montclair State University, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Veterans Scholarship, Saint Peter’s Prep, Saint Benedict’s Prep, Seton Hall Prep, Oak Knoll School, Roselle Catholic High School, Raritan Valley Community College, Union County College, Saint Dominic Academy and Saint Vincent Academy.

Founded in 1989 as Trenta Amici and later renamed Cento Amici – Italian for “One Hundred Friends” – the organization has evolved into a community of members united by a single mission: expanding educational opportunities for those who need them most.

Leveling the playing field

As a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Cento Amici directs its resources toward students underserved by existing need-based programs, believing that access to quality education can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. That mission traces its roots to a belief deeply held by the late Thomas W. Zito, former executive director of the Bayonne Housing Authority.

“My dad always felt education was the great equalizer, which is why Cento Amici, then Trenta Amici, was formed,” Robert Zito, Thomas’s son, founder of Zito Partners and chairman of Cento Amici, told NJBIZ.

That conviction continues to guide the organization today. Most funds raised each year are awarded directly as scholarships, while members also contribute to an endowment fund – now approaching $1 million – to ensure that future generations of students benefit from the same opportunities.

Together, the annual Golf Classic and the Dinner & Auction, help Cento Amici raise approximately $300,000 to $500,000 annually in support of its mission.

“Thank you all for being here,” Zito told golfers before the shotgun start. “Year 38, we sincerely appreciate it. Last year, we had 58 kids on scholarships in New Jersey schools, all thanks to your generosity.”

Year 38, we sincerely appreciate it. Last year, we had 58 kids on scholarships in New Jersey schools, all thanks to your generosity.
—Robert Zito

The 2026 Golf Outing featured friendly competition on the course, including Long Drive, Closest to the Pin, and Putting Contest challenges, followed by a cocktail hour, dinner and digital silent auction. Among the most notable auction items was a rare challenge coin belonging to Medal of Honor recipient Col. Jack Jacobs — a treasured piece of American history that reflects the organization’s enduring commitment to service and leadership.

Building future leaders

As the final putts dropped and guests gathered for dinner, the true measure of the day’s success became clear – not in scorecards or fundraising totals, but in the educational opportunities created for students across New Jersey. The outing continues Cento Amici’s work of nearly four decades: transforming generosity into scholarships and friendship into lasting impact.

The organization will gather again Oct. 1 at The Stone House at Stirling Ridge for its 38th Annual Dinner & Auction, marking 25 years since 9/11 by honoring the memory of those lost, recognizing former FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker as its newest member as well as inducting NYPD Chief of Department Michael LiPetri as a new member, and honoring longtime member and former Port Authority Police Chief Christopher Trucillo for his distinguished service – all while supporting the next generation through the Cento Amici Scholarship Program.

In doing so, the organization honors the past while investing in the leaders of tomorrow.