Louie Belcastro didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. Like many teenagers, his focus at a young age was on school, his friends and his family. But his father’s sudden death left him, the eldest son, responsible for picking up the family business; and not only did he do that – he brought it to new heights. Now, he’s giving back to the community he grew up in, donating $500,000 to York University’s Markham Campus in support of its capital campaign and the development of student-focused spaces.
“The university looks amazing. It keeps getting better,” Louie said during a recent visit to campus, where he and his family had the opportunity to meet with students and see the newly named Belcastro Family Lounge, dedicated in recognition of their generous gift. “I know it’s not easy to make this come from paper to life, but it happened. This is a benefit to the community, to the young people who are able to come to this university.”
The Belcastro family business began as a single mobile coffee truck in Markham. When Louie’s father passed away on a family trip to Italy, the 11th grader began operating the truck by day while continuing his high school education at night.
“Through my journey, I met some great people, some great mentors, that helped me,” says Louie. “They would encourage me forward and tell me that I had what it takes. So, I decided I was going to grow in the food service industry. Once I made that decision, then I started expanding.”
Classic Group of Companies has grown into one of the largest food operations in the GTA, serving millions across Canada. And it remains, at its heart, a family business—a defining element of both its growth and its values.
Louie’s children—Joseph, Michael, and Alessandra—are all actively involved in the company, helping lead it into its next chapter. His wife, Angela, has played a central role in its growth, and as a pillar of strength and support for the family throughout their journey.
“This has always been about more than just business,” Louie says. “Angela and I raised our kids to understand that success comes with responsibility—to each other and to the community. Giving back is part of who we are.”
The state-of-the-art Markham Campus would not have been possible without the generous support of philanthropists like the Belcastro family.
“I can’t say enough about what the support of our donors means to our campus, from our staff and faculty to our students,” says Dan Palermo, Deputy Provost, Markham Campus. “By investing in Markham, donors like Louie are strengthening the community and creating countless opportunities for our students for years to come.”
Spaces like the Belcastro Family Lounge provide students with areas to collaborate, recharge and connect with peers—enhancing the overall student experience and fostering community.
Students like Rachael Denov, a first-year student in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation program and a member of the Markham Student Council, are already realizing the impact of the growing campus.
“I knew I wanted to study business,” says Rachael. “I love people, so Entrepreneurship and Innovation really caught my eye. The whole point is to make something new, which was a huge draw for me. And the spaces here [at Markham Campus] have just handed us a ton of new opportunities and technologies we can use.”
For Louie, supporting students like Rachael as well as the community that nurtured his business, is a full-circle moment.
“You have to stay positive, and surround yourself with great people,” he says. “Never stop learning. Life is a journey, and in the end, it really is about helping each other and just being thankful and appreciative. Even though my journey was a little rough, I could never have gotten here if I didn’t experience all of this. Most people give up. You just have to persevere.”
Click here to learn more about York’s Markham Campus.