It was a simple, but career-shaping question in seventh grade that put Tony DiBenedetto (B.S. ’87) on a life-changing trajectory. What do you want to be when you grow up? DiBenedetto was raised by his grandparents and suffered the sudden loss of his grandmother at age 12. Taken in for the summer by a family friend, John Lilly not only asked that pivotal question — but when DiBenedetto said he was interested in going to space, Lilly explained that computers ran NASA and encouraged him to explore the relatively new technology. “In 1977, I couldn’t tell you what a computer was,” said DiBenedetto. “It wasn’t prolific in our everyday lives, and I was like, ‘yeah, I’m going to get into computers.’ From seventh grade on, whoever would listen to me, I would say that I was going to do computers.” He didn’t touch a computer until high school, when he was given an early TI99 computer and taught himself programming. But thanks to the encouragement and coaching he received over the next several years — sometimes from unlikely places — he never let go of that vision. Finding His Home at Florida State A spring break visit during DiBenedetto’s senior year of high school left a lasting impression. Although he considered playing baseball at a smaller school, that visit, combined with FSU’s programs in advanced math and computer science, ultimately drew him to Tallahassee. As a first-generation college student who had experienced a challenging childhood and lived in about 15 different homes, DiBenedetto said he quickly found sources of support at FSU. His time at Florida State was shaped by advocates such as the Career Center’s Dr. Bob Reardon and mentors such as Jeff Douglas and Pearly Rosier. “He acted like I was his younger brother from the minute we met,” DiBenedetto said of Douglas, a staff member at the Student Disability Resource Center computer lab where DiBenedetto was assigned work-study. “He was coaching me on all the dumb things I was doing and teaching me to be a young professional at 18.” While Douglas was like an older brother, Rosier served as a mother or grandmother figure. DiBenedetto had to work to pay his way through school, so he also held a job at the Career Center where Rosier worked. She took him under her wing and parented him throughout his time at FSU and beyond. A Career Built on Gratitude and Mentorship DiBenedetto was part of the first class to graduate with a Management Information Systems (MIS) degree from the FSU College of Business — a program that combines business courses with technology. But his connection to FSU didn’t end at graduation. His dream job at Arthur Andersen led him to recruit FSU students, and DiBenedetto continued this talent pipeline into Tribridge, a technology company he later co-founded with Brian Deming and fellow Nole Mike Herdegen (B.S. ’85, MBA ’91). Over the years, DiBenedetto helped recruit thousands of FSU students and maintained strong ties with then Career Center Director Myrna Hoover and the university’s career placement team. “One of the cool things about my career is that I’ve been working with Florida State the whole time,” DiBenedetto said. “I can trace so many of the relationships I have through the university. My gratitude for Florida State is really at an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.” Giving Back—and Thinking Big As a high school senior, DiBenedetto had a pivotal moment when he received several small scholarships during an awards night. Overwhelmed with gratitude for his guidance counselor and school community, he promised himself that one day, when he could, he would give back. After college, DiBenedetto started to make good on the promise he made himself by volunteering with the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Clubs and other organizations focused on developing entrepreneurs and the startup community in Tampa Bay. Over time, those early efforts formalized into a nonprofit he launched in 2016 with FSU alumna Jennie Treby (B.S. ’95): Think Big for Kids. At that time, DiBenedetto was leading the sale of Tribridge and serving on several tech boards, where CEOs were discussing a growing talent shortage. "I kept saying, ‘Why are we not looking inside of our own country at all the kids that aren’t going to college or these kids who don’t have help?’” DiBenedetto said. “We have a large percentage of the population that’s getting lost, and we have an opportunity to develop them.” Think Big for Kids is a three-pillar program that starts in middle school and guides underserved youth through career exploration, mentorship and career readiness until they land their first job. The hands-on program helps disadvantaged kids move from living in poverty or struggling to make ends meet to earning a livable wage — serving as both a solution to the talent gap and a reflection of DiBenedetto’s deep gratitude for the mentorship he once received. “A lot of people have asked me, ‘Why start the program so early?’ and that’s because they still have a lot of hope,” said DiBenedetto. “At age 12, 13, 14, they still believe they can do anything, and I wanted to tap into that energy a little bit.” As of June 2025, Think Big for Kids has served more than 8,500 students in six cities and is on track to surpass 10,000 by the end of the year. DiBenedetto’s goal is to expand the program nationwide to reach hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of students. The CARE Program: Coming Full Circle DiBenedetto became CEO of Appspace in 2022 and continues to serve on the board of five technology companies. In addition to founding Think Big for Kids, he is always seeking more ways to formalize his philanthropy. In 2023, DiBenedetto and his wife, FSU alumna Shannon DiBenedetto (B.S. ’94, B.S. ’94), established the Anthony and Shannon DiBenedetto CARE Summer Bridge Endowed Fund. In 2024, they pledged $1 million to create the Think Big Endowment Fund at the College of Business, designed to encourage broader support for first-generation students. These gifts support FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), which provides orientation, critical support and academic programming for first-generation students—those who often face the same challenges DiBenedetto once did. “When I saw what Dr. [DeOnte] Brown was doing with the CARE program, I was like, ‘this is perfect.’ What happened to me informally has now become formal,” DiBenedetto said. CARE students, the majority of whom are financially challenged and working through school just like DiBenedetto did, graduate at an 87% rate — significantly higher than the national average. DiBenedetto encourages fellow alumni to support programs that matter to them. For him, the connection with CARE is deeply personal and impactful. “I really encourage other people who love Florida State to give to the CARE program because the CARE program can work in all the different colleges — not just the College of Business.” A Legacy That Lasts DiBenedetto is no stranger to professional recognition. His accolades include induction into the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame and the Ernst & Young Florida Entrepreneur of the Year® Award in Technology. Earlier this year, DiBenedetto received the prestigious Horatio Alger Award of Distinguished Americans, for which he is especially proud because it recognizes overcoming an obstacle, achieving a level of success and giving back—a combination that honors the full arc of his life story. When asked about his accomplishments as an entrepreneur, DiBenedetto credited much of his success to building strong, collaborative teams and being comfortable with risk. “I grew up completely in a risk environment. Things were always uncertain... but it made me super comfortable with two things, risk and communication.” He also believes his ability to understand people’s gifts and help them grow has helped him succeed. Just as someone once saw his potential and pointed him toward a future he couldn’t yet imagine, DiBenedetto is now paying it forward. By supporting FSU students through CARE and building a broader pathway through Think Big for Kids, DiBenedetto is investing in the next generation of dreamers, doers and leaders. “We went the endowment route because we believe the CARE program is going to be helping kids for a hundred years. We’re going to be long gone, and that money will keep working for those students,” he said. “It creates a legacy that lasts multiple lifetimes.” Sometimes, all it takes is one person believing in you, one piece of advice, one small opportunity, or one meaningful “thank you” to change a life. Hear More Give to the CARE Program Today!