Rebekah Castagno

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Age: 36

Title: Development Coordinator

Company: The Village for Families & Children

Location: Hartford

Hometown: West Hartford

College: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Bio

As a valued member of the development team at The Village for Families & Children, Rebekah Castagno manages corporate fundraising, volunteer engagement and in-kind drives.

For 13 years, Castagno focused on advancing her corporate career, but developed a new level of commitment to helping underserved populations after a mission trip to Haiti. She discovered Encore!Hartford: the catalyst in her 2011 transition to a nonprofit environment.

Four years later, Castagno has increased volunteer engagement at The Village by 80 percent and oversees growth of the corporate and foundation grant portfolio. Castagno single-handedly coordinates the efforts of donors, corporations and 100 volunteers to ensure 2,300 children receive holiday gifts, and 1,000 Hartford children return to school with necessary supplies.

Castagno is a founding member of United Way's Emerging Leaders Society and chair of the communications subcommittee. She loves working with talented young professionals to create campaigns advancing community goals.

Recent mission trips to South Africa influenced Castagno's volunteerism with young women and girls at The Village's Alison Gill Lodge and the women's prison.

Q&A

What three factors contributed to your success today? I give full credit to God for any and all success I have experienced. His faithfulness in walking with me is the primary source of strength and stability in my life. Perseverance, honesty and gratitude have been significant in my journey.

What would the title of your autobiography be? I grew up with two younger brothers and parents who were happily married. We lived modest, but full lives, and I recall feeling grateful at a young age. When I was seven, my 33-year-old father suffered a stroke that almost took his life. Over the next several years, my father made a miraculous recovery but was left with paralysis on his right side. My mom worked two jobs while my father tried desperately to secure a job in the face of discrimination due to his physical disability.

I would title my autobiography “Silver Linings” symbolizing the hope at work even in the most impossible situations. Today, I see the reality of my mother doing whatever it took to help my father in his recovery, getting three kids on the bus, and stepping in as financial provider. Never do I recall a single word of complaint or self-pity. My father continued submitting applications day after day in the midst of indescribable physical pain. Seven years later he found a job he loves and still works full time.