The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (CFSLOCO) presented the 7th Annual Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award to Community Action Partnership’s (CAPSLO) Director of Child, Youth and Family Services Division, William Castellanos, during a San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting.
The Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award annually recognizes a local individual for outstanding efforts in advocacy and caring for local people in SLO County.
Castellanos supervises CAPSLO’s Regional Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, State Child Development, and Child Care Resource Connection programs. His efforts have helped thousands of children and low-income families by ensuring that high quality childcare and education are being offered through the programs, along with initiating programs that teach fathers parenting and communications skills.
“We all must remember that our Head Start children who are born to the poorest families have the same potential to succeed as those born to the richest families,” said Castellanos, who has dedicated his life’s work to serving children and families in San Luis Obispo County for nearly four decades.
Castellanos passion for helping our community extends beyond the children and families to the teachers who implement CAPSLO’s programs. His mentoring and advocating skills are responsible for 239 Head Start teachers achieving a higher level of education.
Established through CFSLOCO by Bill Broadbent in 2007, the Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award serves the dual purpose of honoring Ruiz and encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.
Since 1998, The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County has supported our County with grants totaling more than $24 million including more than $1 million in scholarships to local students. The permanent endowment has grown to over $32 million, and provides support to all aspects of our community in perpetuity. For more information or to donate to any fund, visit The Community Foundation’s website or call 543-2323.