Engaging Youth Peer Network: Impact, Leadership and Diversity in Philanthropy, a Conversation with Carmela Castellano-Garcia

This special interactive event is for young grantmakers from your families (approximately ages 8-21). Two philanthropic teens will facilitate a conversation with Castellano Family Foundation President Carmela Castellano-Garcia. Hear about the foundation and its impact as well as Carmela’s own leadership journey. Carmela’s role includes promoting the importance of diversity in philanthropy and of investing in the Latino community. Bring your questions for Carmela about impact, leadership, and your own journey in the field.

Castellano Family Foundation

Carmela and her family, who together operate the Foundation with staff support from Program Director Angie Briones, have worked to make the organization a model of Latino philanthropy. They continue to focus on values and objectives that relate directly to supporting the local Latino community. “Giving back to the Latino community was something that I grew up to understand was important long before we had the Foundation,” says Carmela, who credits her parents for the family’s spirit of generosity, empathy for the less fortunate, and volunteerism. Furthermore, her work with the Foundation, she adds, “has given me a much greater understanding of the vital role non-profit organizations play in meeting the needs of underserved individuals in Santa Clara County.”  In addition to the topics noted above, Carmela has used these forums as opportunities to speak on the importance of grant making to small organizations, community-based grant making and the sustainability of family philanthropies.