Thank you for attending the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 13th Anniversary Gala!
Honoring Carlos Castro and the Jacquemin Family Foundation
April 28, 2023

Thank you to all who joined us at the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 13th Anniversary Gala on Friday, April 28, 2023!
In addition to honoring Carlos Castro and The Jacquemin Family Foundation, the event raised more than $200,000 in support of the Hylton Center’s many artistic programs, the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, educational outreach, and the Hylton Center’s endowment, ensuring artistic excellence across Hylton performances and offerings.
About the Honorees
Carlos Castro

Mr. Castro was born in El Salvador on September 29, 1954 and migrated to the United States at age 25 during the winter of 1979. An entrepreneur by nature, Carlos had ventured into a variety of activities and businesses, from a dishwasher laborer, to remodeling contractor, to real estate agent, to restaurant owner – and for the last 31 years, a successful grocery store owner. Mr. Castro is a clear example of what hard work, determination, and sacrifice immigrants bring to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. With some college education in Industrial Engineering in El Salvador, and some studies in Construction Management at NVCC, he has fulfilled many dreams. Although Mr. Castro spends most of his time at Todos Supermarket, he is also involved in the community and serves in various capacities on boards.
Mr. Castro is a member of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and participates in various activities to reward the work of Prince William County Police Officers. Mr. Castro is also active in the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Prince William County Police Citizen Advisory Board.
Mr. Castro is not only a founding member of the Board of Regents of Leadership Prince William, but also a member of the graduate class of 2010. Mr. Castro is a former board member of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and its predecessor Potomac Hospital.
He is a recipient of Leadership Prince William’s 2017 Leadership Vision Award, as well as the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s Charles J. Colgan Visionary Award. Mr. Castro hopes to reach out to the younger community and get them involved in activities that will lead them to become successful and respectful leaders.
He is married to Mrs. Gladis Castro with whom he has three children: Daniel, Gina, and Carlos Jr.
The Jacquemin Family Foundation
The Jacquemin Family Foundation, led by John and Tracie Jacquemin, has supported charitable causes across Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington region since its establishment in 1997. Through John and Tracie’s philanthropic spirit, the Foundation has created countless opportunities for enriched educational and artistic experiences. In 2022, the Hylton Performing Arts Center named the large rehearsal hall in the Education and Rehearsal Wing in honor of the Jacquemin Family Foundation, signaling their transformational support for the Center’s artistic work and endowment.
John Jacquemin is the President and CEO of Mooring Financial Corporation, a private investment firm that he founded in 1982. He received the Ernst & Young Greater Washington Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006 in recognition of his leadership. John also has an affinity for acting, having performed in several productions with the Flint Hill-based theater company Stone Hill Players.
John and Tracie's commitment to George Mason University spans several years: John served on the University’s Board of Visitors from 2012-2017, and he currently serves on the George Mason University Foundation’s Board of Trustees. John and Tracie’s daughter also graduated from George Mason.
In addition to their longtime relationship with the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the Jacquemin Family Foundation provides essential support for George Mason University students. They established the Education Abroad Scholarship for George Mason University students in 2016, as well as a doctoral research fellowship for the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in 2018. Through their unwavering dedication to the Hylton Center and George Mason University, the Jacquemin Family Foundation has been a tireless champion of arts and education in Northern Virginia and beyond.
John and Tracie have three daughters.
Raise Your Paddle for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative

The 13th Anniversary Gala included another successful “Raise Your Paddle” for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative! Over $39,000 was raised in just a few minutes, directly supporting access to programs that the Hylton Center has provided to over 11,000 of our Veterans, Servicemembers, military family members, and community members since 2014. Through the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, military-connected community members participate in free workshops, attend exhibitions, and experience concerts honoring military service. Thank you for keeping these programs free and accessible for all.
Help us reach our next goal for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative! Click here to donate.
Live Auction
The Green Machine Experience

Thank you to the Green Machine for bringing us an exciting live auction - the Green Machine Experience! Our auction winners went home with the promise of a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Doc Nix and the Green Machine, including Mason men’s basketball tickets, a performance opportunity, and more. The Green Machine’s Dirty Gold brass ensemble and Green and Gold Soul ensemble also performed throughout the evening!
For more information about Doc Nix and the Green Machine Ensembles, click here.
Thank You to our 13th Anniversary Gala Presenting Sponsor
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Compton & Duling, L.C.
Platinum Sponsor
The Jacquemin Family
Silver Sponsors
Amazon Web Services
City of Manassas
Rick Davis and Julie Thompson
Davis Construction
Didlake
Dominion Energy
ECU Communications
The Edwards, Parr, Reeder, and Seraydarian Families
George Mason University Foundation
The Law Office of Sheyna Nicole Burt, PLC
Miller Toyota of Manassas
Odin, Feldman, and Pittleman PC
Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Sentara Healthcare
Stanley Martin Homes
Todos Neighborhood Market
Tru by Hilton
United Bank
UVA Community Health
Wall Foundation
Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, P.C.
John and Ann Wheeler
Signature Cocktail Sponsor
Murlarkey Distilled Spirits
13th Anniversary Gala Committee
Maryse Allen
Sheryl Bass
David Baylor
Diane Burrell
Sarah Cissna
Joyce Connery
Jacque Connor
Callie Cooper
Rick Davis
Niyati Dhokai
Randall Edwards
Marlene Epstein
Barbara Ghadban
Allison Jones
Carolyn Kriebel
Dylan Lambert
Christopher Leet
Sarah Perlman
Emily Robinson
Rich Seraydarian
Emily Smith
Loza Teodros
Marion Wall
The Hylton Center thanks our past honorees for their dedication to and support of the arts in our community:
- 13th Anniversary: Carlos Castro and The Jacquemin Family Foundation
- 12th Anniversary: Lovey Hammel and Denise McPhail
- 11th Anniversary: Celebration of the Arts Alliance
- 10th Anniversary Gala: Odin, Feldman, and Pittleman
- 9th Anniversary Gala: Buchanan Partners and Nancy Hersch Ingram
- 8th Anniversary Gala: Julie and Buck Waters
- 7th Anniversary Gala: Mary and Hans Postma
- 6th Anniversary Gala: NOVEC and Sally Lay
- 5th Anniversary Gala: Novant Health UVA Health System and Dean William Reeder
- 4th Anniversary Gala: Didlake, John O. Gregory, and Carol Merchant Kirby
- 3rd Anniversary Gala: Dr. Randall Edwards, Dr. Marvin L. Gillum (in memorium), and the Honorable Kathleen K. Seefeldt
- 2nd Anniversary Gala: Alan C. Merten and Sally L. Merten
- 1st Anniversary Gala: Senator Charles J. Colgan
For information about future Gala sponsorship opportunities, please contact Emily Robinson at 703-993-7719 or erobinse@gmu.edu.