On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, MN. Castile was a beloved cafeteria supervisor at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School in St. Paul.
Following Castile's murder, St. Paul Central High School created the "Philando Future Educator Scholarship" to honor its late alumnus. The scholarship aimed to help students from underprivileged backgrounds who wanted to pursue a career in education or child development.
In late August, a second fund was created to pay for student lunches, which Castile would often cover for children in need.
“When a student couldn’t pay for their lunch, a lot of times (Castile) actually paid for their lunch out of his own pocket,” [Stacy Koppen, Nutritional Services Director for St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS)], said.
According to Koppen, lunches for one student across an elementary school year can cost up to $400.
Inver Hills Community College Professor Pam Fergus came up with the idea for the second fund to help clear lunch debts for students at J.J. Hill, saying, "[Castile's] death changed who I am."
Around 400 students attend J.J. Hill. Forty-seven percent of the students at the school are Asian, Black or Latino. The fundraising page shared this about Castile: "Philando was ‘Mr. Phil’ to the students at J.J. Hill. He supervised their food program and interacted with the kids every day. He knew their names and their diets. He LOVED his job!"
There has been overwhelming support for the fund, surpassing all expectations and raising an astounding 13 times more than the original goal. Castile's mother, Valerie, even donated $5,000, saying, "The only thing I want for my son is for people to remember him with honor and dignity." The fund is now covering school lunches throughout the Twin Cities area.
You can donate to the "Philando Feeds the Children" fund here.
The incredible life and legacy of Philando Castile lives on. Thank you, Mr. Phil.