[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 132 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING CARMEN CASTELLANO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 27, 2020

  Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the many 
contributions of Carmen Castellano to educational, philanthropic, and 
artistic pursuits in our San Jose community. Carmen has passed away at 
the age of 81 and is survived by her husband, Al, and their three 
children, Maria, Armando, and Carmela. This loss is deeply felt across 
our community.
  Carmen was born in Watsonville and graduated from Moreland Notre Dame 
High School, later completing the Executive Secretary program at Heald 
Business College. She worked as an Executive Secretary at Cabrillo 
College. I first met her when she worked as an administrative secretary 
and office manager at San Jose City College which she did for 33 years. 
During her time at City College, she was president of the classified 
employees' senate and co-founded the Latino Education Association. For 
her support of San Jose City College, the school named its arts center 
after her in 2012.
  I've never been a big fan of the California lottery, but it was 
wonderful and exciting when Carmen and Al won hundreds of millions in 
the lottery. It couldn't have happened to a nicer couple. When I knew 
Carmen and Al before the lottery win, I knew them as a team that was 
constantly volunteering for the community. I have very fond memories of 
the hours they dedicated to raising college scholarship money with the 
American GI Forum. It wasn't a surprise to me, then, that they took the 
lottery winnings and used them for good in our community.
  Almost immediately after their win, Carmen and Al formed the 
Castellano Family Foundation and started directing grants in support of 
Santa Clara County causes. They focused their Foundation on the Arts 
and Latino organizations, and it served to amplify artistic voices in 
our community. Through the Foundation, they helped fund a black-box 
theater at the MACLA gallery in downtown San Jose, the Castellano 
Playhouse, and, among many others, provided support to Cinequest, 
Teatro Vision, San Jose Jazz, and Los Lupenos de San Jose. The City of 
San Jose honored Carmen and Al for their work with the creative 
community with the Cornerstone of the Arts Award in 2015.
  In addition to the Castellano Family Foundation, Carmen was active on 
several Boards throughout the years, including the Board of the 
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and the Latina 
Coalition of Silicon Valley, as well as the Santa Clara County Office 
of Education's Artspiration initiative steering committee. Admirably, 
Carmen pushed every organization that she worked with toward diversity 
and inclusion--toward equity. For many, she has been a role model and a 
beacon. Her legacy helps fuel the work that is still cut out for all of 
us in San Jose.
  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize and commend Carmen 
Castellano for her unwavering commitment to the vibrancy of our 
community. We miss her greatly.

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