Our Trustees

Carmela Castellano-Garcia

President

Carmela was named president of the Foundation in 2016 and served as its Vice-President upon joining the board in 2012. She is the former President and CEO of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), where she oversaw a membership association of more than 1,370 nonprofit, community clinics and health centers (CCHCs) which serve nearly 7.4 million patients a year. Ms. Castellano-Garcia is the founder and former executive director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), a health care policy and advocacy organization that works to improve access to health and human services for California’s Latino population. Her legal experience includes six years as a staff attorney and managing attorney with Public Advocates, Inc., a public interest law firm in San Francisco. Carmela is a graduate of Yale Law School and was recognized with the 2018 Yale Law School Merit Award. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. While a student, she spent a year at La Universidad Central de Venezuela as a Rotary Foundation International Scholar. She currently serves on the board of the Greenlining Institute and the National Center for Family Philanthropy.

Christina West-Bieg

Secretary

Christina was born and raised in the Silicon Valley and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a minor in Art History & Archaeology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a Program Manager at Facebook and has a decade of previous experience in the tech and financial services industries. With a lifelong interest in music, arts and culture, and education, she has participated in a variety of volunteer work. Christina previously served as Treasurer of the New York City Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter and currently serves as Treasurer of the Silicon Valley Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter. She also previously worked as an Office Administrator for the Castellano Family Foundation in 2009 and is absolutely thrilled to now serve as the newest Trustee. Christina is looking forward to getting more closely involved in the Silicon Valley philanthropic community and representing the next generation of the family.

Maria West

Treasurer

Maria is married with two grown children and works as a group fitness instructor. She has a bachelor’s degree in Dance and an MBA from San Jose State University. She currently serves on the boards of directors of San Jose Jazz, Cashion Cultural Legacy, and sjDANCEco. She is a former board member of the Los Gatos Education Foundation and the Los Gatos High School Music Boosters and a former member of the Women’s Foundation of California – Women of Silicon Valley Giving Circle. She has a history of volunteer work in support of the arts as a member of Los Lupeños de San Jose, the Los Gatos Union School District Arts Task Force, and Fisher Middle School Site Council.

Alcario Castellano

Founder and Emeritus Trustee

Born in Artesia, New Mexico, Alcario came to California at an early age and graduated from San Benito High School in Hollister. He served in the US Army and later worked in the aerospace industry and as a supermarket retail clerk until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the Mexican Heritage Plaza and currently serves on the board of Latinas Contra Cancer. He is a former board member of Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and the American GI Forum and was named Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association in 2006. He has a long history of volunteer work with these and other organizations in the Latino community. An avid photographer for over 25 years, Al took hundreds of photographs and videos of culturally significant events in San Jose which were recently incorporated into a video documentary.

Carmen Castellano

Co-Founder (1939-2020)

Born in Watsonville, California, Carmen graduated from Moreland Notre Dame High School and Heald Business College. She held administrative positions at Cabrillo College and San Jose City College where she worked for 33 years until her retirement in 1999. She was a founder of the Latino Education Association @ SJCC and a member of the Latina Leadership Network of the California Community Colleges. She is a former board member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, Chicana Latina Foundation, and served on the Santa Clara County Office of Education Artspiration Steering Committee. She has been recognized for her contributions to philanthropy including having the SJCC Arts Center named after her in 2012 and being honored as a HIPGiver by Hispanics in Philanthropy in 2014. Carmen is also a Fellow of the American Leadership Forum Class XX.

Armando Castellano

Former Trustee

Armando Castellano is a musician, arts advocate and philanthropist who resides in the Silicon Valley where he wears many hats. As a French horn player he performs professionally in regional orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Bay Area. Much of his time is spent managing and performing with his own chamber ensemble, Quinteto Latino. This music organization focuses on building community through Latino Classical Music. They specialize in the performance and advocacy of Latino composers and consistently advocate on behalf of classical musicians of color. As a music instructor and teaching artist he has taught in both English and Spanish, at venues such as San José City College and at many bilingual schools and institutions. As a philanthropist, he is a strong advocate for access to quality arts education for all and community based philanthropic practices. He is proud to work with the Castellano Family Foundation to fund non-profits in Silicon Valley dealing with issues around education, Latino leadership and the arts.