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Oct 21, 2007

"In fact, taking tamales to the church potluck or reading in the classroom - all those little acts are philanthropic. Philanthropy means love of humankind." --Santamaría

Immigrant Gardeners Become Philanthropists

Catalino Tapia came to the United States at age 20 with $6 in his pocket. He worked hard, as a baker and a machine operator, and eventually started his own gardening business. He and his wife bought a home and raised their two sons, putting the eldest through college. Though he never studied beyond sixth grade, Tapia was so inspired to see his son, Noel, graduate from UC Berkeley that he decided to help others do the same by awarding college scholarships. With his callused hands and burly shoulders, the Michoacán native does not fit the typical image of a philanthropist. When Silicon Valley Community Foundation told him that they had never seen a foundation started by gardeners before, he replied, "Well, we'll be the first."