Recognizing Life and Contributions of Alcario ``al'' Castellano
Floor Speech
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Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my colleague, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren--and I know Congressman Ro Khanna also would like to be represented--to recognize the life and contributions of U.S. Army veteran and community leader Alcario ``Al'' Castellano for his dedication to advancing education, arts, and leadership in San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley of California. He is not simply a tremendous model of generosity but, more importantly, of purpose.
Al Castellano won the lottery. No, I am not just talking about his unique fortune of building a beautiful family with his wife, Carmen, or his three beloved children, Armando Castellano, Maria West, and Carmela Castellano-Garcia. In 2001, Al and his wife, Carmen, won a $141 million California Lottery jackpot.
More importantly, the Castellanos were already pillars within the community, known for volunteering on committees and boards for local schools and civic organizations like San Jose GI Forum and contributing to arts and cultural organizations like Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana and the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza.
It came as no surprise when the family turned their moment of good fortune into a lifetime of impact. It is often noted that their generosity and values didn't change after the win, only the size of their checks did.
With their winnings, Al and Carmen created the Castellano Family Foundation to uplift San Jose's Latino community. Through the years, the foundation awarded millions of dollars in grants and scholarships to over 150 Silicon Valley nonprofits. Together, the Castellano Family Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation created LatinXCEL Fund, a $10 million effort to support Latino leaders and groups in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Al and Carmen were married for 57 years before she passed away just a few years ago in 2020. In the years after her passing, the Castellano children were the driving force behind the foundation until its operations concluded in 2023. The impact of their monetary contributions is exceeded only by the change they cultivated on behalf of the Latino community by pushing for cultural preservation and more diverse representation in nonprofit leadership.
On April 26, Al Castellano passed away in his Saratoga home surrounded by loved ones. His most important role, of course, was that of a loving husband, father, and grandfather to his family.
It wasn't just Al who won the jackpot. We were the ones who hit the jackpot by having him as a wonderful friend and neighbor.
Lofgren).
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