On behalf of the ¡Si Se Puede! Collective, we honor the legacy of Carmen Castellano – a devoted wife and mother, community advocate, philanthropist, and the inspiration behind the Castellano Family Foundation’s mission to cultivate and enrich Latino family values and promote the arts in Santa Clara County.

Through Carmen’s leadership, the Castellano Family Foundation has been focused on supporting organizations led by and serving the Latinx Community since inception. We are grateful, not just for their continuous support of our individual organizations, but for being the first foundation to invest in the Collective as a grantee. Carmen especially believed in our vision of uniting our strategies for deeper impact in the Mayfair neighborhood.

For many, Carmen was a trailblazer. She set the standard for requiring majority Latinx-representation on nonprofit Boards, by making that a condition to apply.

Carmen was an avid supporter of the arts. Not only did she support arts organizations through grant-making, she showed up in community, to celebrate cultura and heritage with us – from events at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, like Día de Los Muertos to Fiesta Navideña to San Jose Jazz’ Summer Fest. It was always a treat to see her by the main stage, soaking it all in.

Carmen was compassionate. Nearly 10 years ago, Carmen supported organizations like ours, when we were all in great need, coming out of the 2008 recession. In addition to annual grants, she provided SOMOS (specifically) with a no-cost loan that helped us keep our doors open, re-strategize and re-build. Because of the compassion she extended to us, we have been able to thrive. These are a few of the stories and memories we Collectively hold of Carmen, and again are beyond grateful for her life, her legacy, and the way in which her children continue

to lead, with her as their model.

Our Collective thoughts continue to be with the Castellano Family

Camille Llanes-Fontanilla and the ¡Si Se Puede! Collective