Our Benefactors
Joseph A. Unanue
Joseph Unanue may be widely remembered as the former Chairman and CEO of Goya Foods, Inc. but to his family and many of his employees he was simply "Papa Joe." Mr. Unanue was a brilliant leader and administrator; loved and respected by all for his leadership, tenacity and dedication to not only his vision of expanding Goya but to keeping with the traditions of his family and culture.
Joseph A. Unanue dedicated his life to helping others. He was twice named "Man of the Year" by the National Conference of Christians & Jews and was awarded a Leadership Award by the National Minority Suppliers Association. He was even presented the Key to the City of Boston. In 1991, Hispanic Magazine honored Mr. Unanue with the National Hispanic Achievement Award. He received an honorary Ph. D. from Seton Hall University and served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America, his alma mater. His mission was to help Hispanic people and to promote Hispanic Culture. "We have always dealt with the Hispanic market in this country. I wanted to help people from Spanish countries get ahead in this country," he once said.
This initiative and generous spirit is something we seek to embody as a salute to our namesake. The institute reflects the Unanue's spirit for promoting the rich history of Latinos in the United States — to which Unanue himself has contributed a few chapters. Following his service in the military, which earned him a bronze star, he joined the family firm. In 1972, he became acting president until the death of his father in 1976 upon which he became Chairman, President and CEO. Under his leadership, the company grew from a small regional food company with approximately $8 million in total sales to a global brand with over $800 million in sales and 15 manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide. Goya Foods, Inc. is now the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the country with an international operation stretching from Secaucus, NJ, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Seville, Spain, to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with ten U.S. facilities located in: Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and California.
Joseph A. Unanue and his wife Carmen Ana made uplifting the Latino community their life’s work.
Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue
Faithful, lifelong service to her family, her church, and her community are hallmarks of the life of Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue. Her deep commitment to others distinguished her as a woman of great compassion and vision.
Mrs. Unanue was involved in numerous religious and community activities for many years. She taught Spanish and Religious Education at St. Joseph School in Bogota, New Jersey, and St. Therese in Cresskill, New Jersey. Throughout the Archdiocese of Newark and the local Latino community, she was well known for her many volunteer efforts.
Her commitment to the community was evident through her involvement in various charitable organizations. She served as an executive board member and as the former president of El Museo del Barrio, New York City’s only museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, the Caribbean, and Latin American art. In 2006, she was named to the board of directors of The Resource Foundation, an organization committed to increasing the self-reliance and living standards of the disadvantaged throughout Latin America. Mrs. Unanue spent many years on the Board of Trustees of public television, WNET, channel 13 in New York City, and a board member of the Don Bosco Executive Development Council in Patterson, New Jersey. Previously, she served on the Overseers Seminary Committee at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, New Jersey.
She frequently traveled to Honduras to work with residents in remote villages with her family. Her desire to share her time, talent, and treasure with others was evident in her dedication to this undertaking. Through these trips, she partnered with the Agua para del Pueblo project, providing vital infrastructure to bring potable water to villagers without the means to do so themselves. In addition, she was instrumental in building schools in the same affected areas. Mrs. Unanue saw the call to stewardship as a way of life.
In 2005, Mrs. Unanue was honored by the American Bible Society for her contribution and leadership to the Hispanic community. At the request of Pope John Paul II, she served on a ten-woman steering committee that was responsible for organizing the first Catholic Pro Familia in Puerto Rico in September 1993. In this capacity, she was able to work with Papal Emissary, and close family friend, noted author, Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete. Mrs. Unanue was honored by President Ronald Reagan for her community service. In 1984, Seton Hall University awarded Mrs. Unanue an honorary Doctorate of Humanitarian Service.
Throughout her life, Carmen Ana remained an active and committed philanthropist. Both personally and through the C&J Unanue Foundation, she supported several organizations, including Ballet Hispanico, Museo Del Barrio, and the Archdiocese of Newark. The Foundation funds the Joseph A. Unanue Institute and the Latin American/Latino Studies Program at Seton Hall University.
Mrs. Carmen Ana Unanue was the proud mother of six children & eighteen grandchildren.