Celebrating 15 Years
News + EventsHighlights from the 15th Anniversary Celebration
at Mexican Heritage Plaza
Looking Back
A Daughter’s Perspective
For as long as I can remember, my parents, Alcario and Carmen Castellano, have always been active, involved members of the Latino community in San Jose. When I was young, I remember my father being very passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion. My parents even advocated at the local elementary school I attended, on the need for diversity among the teaching staff, as my sister and I were the only students of color. My mother, who worked at San Jose City College, always paid close attention to the board of trustees, the governing committee of her college district, to see what decisions they would be making and the impacts of such decisions.
My parents work and dedication to the community helped play an instrumental role in my own career path and dedication to bettering the Latino community. From a very young age, they instilled in my siblings and I, a love for being involved and advancing the community.
The foundation was founded on uplifting the Latino community in four main areas: education, arts & culture, leadership, and diversity. Over the years, we’ve awarded over millions of dollars in the form of grants, scholarships, and efforts that advance Latino art and culture. Now that the Castellano Family Foundation is celebrating its 15th year, we debuted something truly special at the Mexican Heritage Plaza on June 23, 2017 during the celebration. It was the premiere of my father’s documentary, which highlighted the Cinco de Mayo and 16 de Septiembre celebrations that occurred in San Jose in the 80s and 90s. All the footage in the documentary was captured by him and it was amazing to watch people viewing his work.
Words cannot accurately express how amazing of an experience it was to work with my father on this project. Not only did I help produce the film, I conducted a four hour interview of my father, that would later contribute to the documentary as the voiceover. I learned so much about his passions during those four hours and am honored to share this part of my father with the community. I want people to understand the part of my father before he won the lotto and his continuous commitment to the community well before that.
The Castellano Family Foundation’s 15th anniversary celebration was truly a momentous occasion that I was happy to share with the community that it all started in. From the foundation’s establishment to my father’s documentary, my hope is that the foundation continues to enrich the Latino community both in Santa Clara County and Nationwide.
15 Years + Counting
The foundation has achieved many milestones in the last 15 years and will undoubtedly achieve many more. Highlighted below are several of which we are proudest:
The Castellano Family “Gives Back”
After winning the California Lottery in 2001, Al and Carmen Castellano established the Castellano Fami...
$1 Million in Grants Awarded
Carmen and Al’s community-focused approach to grant making results in more than 100 grants and $1 ... 
$2.5 Million Invested in the Community
Carmen and Al continue their close personal relationships with organizations in the community. By n... 
Transition to the Next Generation
Carmen and Al Castellano initiate the process to transition the leadership of the foundation to thei... 
First Grantee Convening
The foundation hosts its first-ever Grantee Convening in order to present its new strategic plan to ... 
Multiyear General Support Strategy
The foundation board initiates a new strategy to help grantees improve their organizational capacity... 
Grantee Convening 2013
Some 12 years ago, Alcario and Carmen Castellano experienced a windfall of money which today, lookin... 
Video Documentary Commissioned
As a tribute to its founder, the foundation commissions the making of a video documentary using phot... 
$5 Million Awarded
The foundation achieves a significant milestone – 700 grants totaling $5 million awarded to more t... 
Our Video Gallery
Documentary Preview
A highlight of the foundation’s anniversary was the premiere of a documentary commissioned as a special tribute to its founder, Alcario. The documentary featured photos and videos that he took of Fiestas Patrias in San Jose over nearly a decade while volunteering with the San Jose GI Forum, organizers of these events.
Documentary Interview
CFF Grantee Video
How to share with just friends.
Posted by Facebook on Friday, December 5, 2014
Grantee Infographic
In the Press
NBC Bay Area
Castellano Family Foundation celebrates “Quinceañera” (Spanish)
NBC Bay Area
Castellano Family Foundation celebrates “Quinceañera” (English)