Carmela Antolino grew up in rural Italy in the late 1800s with very limited resources. She had no formal education, spoke basic Italian, and could not read or write in Italian or English. Despite these challenges, she immigrated to America in 1930 to create a better life for her family.
In a new country, Carmela cooked meals for railroad workers to support her family. She recognized that education was the key to opportunity and worked tirelessly to ensure her children could pursue it. All three of her children went on to become teachers, fulfilling her vision of lifting others up through learning.
Because Carmela persevered through so many hardships to ensure her children’s success, The Carmela Foundation focuses on providing students with the tools needed for lifelong financial success. Carmela’s belief in hard work, determination, and the power of education inspires the founding principles of The Carmela Foundation.
The Carmela Foundation 