Catalino Tapia, a humble gardener who studied until the sixth year of primary school in Mexico, fulfilled 15 years of giving college scholarships to low-income and undocumented students.
In recognition of their innovative work, the board of directors of the Gardeners Scholarship Foundation of the Bay Area (BAGSF), surprised him with the news that the organization he created in 2006, changes its name to be called Fundación Catalino Tapia.
“In 15 years we have delivered 350 $ 2 scholarships, for each student plus one computer ”, he says excitedly.
And he recognizes that it is a great pride that a person An illiterate person with no formal education as he describes himself, has formed a foundation to give scholarships. “This shows that if we all come together and try to do something positive, we can achieve it, and above all by letting ourselves be guided by the advice and direction of God.”
Born in Michoacán, Mexico, arrived in the United States in 1964.
“It was very hard at the beginning. He did not know the language and did not know how to do anything. He only knew how to milk cows ”.
His first job was as a donut maker in a bakery in the city of Palo Alto with a salary of 45 pennies an hour.
“God has helped me, little by little I was getting better. There was a time when I worked as a machine operator in a safe factory. There he won 50 cents an hour. ”
But in “A friend of mine had a route for $ 350 a month. He returned to Mexico and sold it to me in 1981 ”.
By recommendations from the same clients, he found new clientele with wealthy people in the San Francisco peninsula area.
Catalino married Margarita, a Michoacan he met in the city of Redwood City in the Northern California, and since they had their two sons Noel and Edel, they opened a savings account so they could send them to university.
“When my son graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, and I looked at only a handful of Latinos among the graduates, I thought it had to do with lack of resources and the economy. ”
He was so happy to see his son Noel graduate from university, that he promised himself to do something to help poor young people.
“Years passed, and I couldn’t find the way of how to start. The idea was in my mind. I didn’t let her die. And in 2002, during a road trip between Redwood City and Los Angeles, I came up with a fund to give college scholarships to boys with limited resources. ” the driver’s seat.
“Suddenly, like a ray of light an idea came to mind, you are a gardener and you work with Many wealthy people ask for donations. ”
When he arrived in Los Angeles, precisely to visit his son, as soon as he saw him come along with other lawyer friends, he told the three of them his project in mind and asked their opinion.
“The lawyers Maribel Medina and Miguel Marquez said that they could We were going to form a foundation. But I didn’t know what it was. Don’t worry, they told me. ”
At the end of 2003, gave him the documents of the Bay Gardeners Scholarship Foundation. “From then on, I started with a lot of fear to raise funds. I thought that the most that could happen was that my clients would deny me the donation or run me off, but I took the risk. ”
And it was like a miracle because in two weeks, he raised $ 10, 000. “So I said, my God, this is the way to go.”
In the year 2006 awarded the first 5 scholarships. “Taking the first step made me super happy. What started as a dream was already a reality, a great satisfaction, something I never dreamed of ”.
Catalino has received many recognitions, but the ones that have no comparison are when he graduates from the university, a student with a scholarship from the foundation he created.
“Karla Navarro has won scholarships 4 times in a row. Just on October 9, he invited me to his graduation party for his master’s degree, and asked me to put the flag of Mexico on his gown. It was very beautiful to see how happy he was with his parents and family. ”
But he also narrates that the director of the office of the now Catalino Tapia Foundation, Yaneth Gutiérrez has won the scholarship 3 times, which that helped her graduate from the University of San José. “She wants to continue studying to be a migration lawyer.”
The selection of scholarship winners is not an easy task.
“They are around 150 application letters received per year; and it is very hard to know that we can only support 21 or 30 guys. ”
Explain that the selection committee is a group of people from outside, who have nothing to see with the foundation.
“They rely a lot on community service because I think that youth must be taught not only to receive but also to give. Also the stories of how they have suffered to get to where they are, have a lot to do with the national team. Sometimes you are pure tears when you read their letters. ”
The most incredible thing is that young people are very grateful for the scholarships, and that motivates them.
Catalino says that the decision to name the foundation after November 4 makes him feel sad and happy.
” Sad because what I started does 15 years with the help of my son and his Friends is closing its first chapter, but we hope that in this new chapter, it will have the same performance and success achieved with the original name. ”
The name change was a decision of the board of directors, he clarifies. Personally, he had his concerns. “I am a humble man, and I do not want people to think that I am showing off, but this foundation will be my legacy for my family, my friends and the youth.”
5 years ago, Catalino was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a disease that he himself he says, it damages the nervous system and has no cure. “The only thing left for me is to be strong and continue with my mission until God allows me.”
To his more than 70 years, with his health declining but with a heart full of enthusiasm, he says that his dream is to continue seeing the now Catalino Tapia Foundation, with the same spirit.
“We have a board of directors directed by Perla Rodríguez, very dedicated to giving young people with limited resources the opportunity to go to university”,
Catalino believes that we can all do something for others if we do not think only of ourselves.
“I could do it without having any education at all, only with a strong desire to help.”
In 2008, received the Purpose Prize for social innovation which consisted of a donation from 100, 000 Dollars. In 2009, she was awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis National Award by the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University and the Carnegie Endowment.