President Donald Trump announced this week his intent to appoint South Carolina entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert A. Castellani to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board of trustees. The Kennedy Center is one of the most prestigious performing arts centers in the nation, and the opportunity to serve there offers Castellani another outlet through which he can positively impact his fellow Americans.
In November, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster awarded Castellani the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor.
“Through his actions, his generosity and his concern for his fellow man, Bob Castellani has exhibited the kind of characteristics and behavior that exemplify the very best of South Carolina,” McMaster said when presenting the award.
For Castellani, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served nine years as a Pararescueman, these recognitions are the result of a lifetime of service.
Following his military career, Castellani founded North American Rescue LLC (NARescue.com) to develop innovative medical/rescue solutions aimed at decreasing preventable deaths due to traumatic injury, particularly in hostile and/or austere environments. NAR can boast supplying every soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coast guardsman at least one piece of lifesaving equipment.
Castellani combined the sense of duty honed in the military with his successes as a businessman to create charitable foundations that assist wounded troops and their families, children with special needs, battered and abused women and children, and various missionary endeavors.
His most recent initiative, Silent Tears (SilentTearsSC.org) launched in 2013 to support centers that help survivors of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Since its inception, Silent Tears has provided $12 million to these centers in South Carolina, including a recent $5 million gift focused on easing the COVID-19 response cost burden.