Food insecurity and the historical impact of the San Diego Food Bank

As CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Casey Castillo oversees a $113.6 million organization with more than $100 million in net assets, directing 90% of expenses to program services. In 2025, the Food Bank distributed 52 million pounds of food and supplies — equivalent to more than 43 million meals — including the highest volume of fresh produce in its history. Castillo led an expansion of food distribution in North County, from 550,000 pounds in 2015 to 9.2 million pounds in 2025.

In January of this year, the Food Bank opened a permanent Vista facility to sustain and further accelerate that growth. The Food Bank’s stellar performance under Castillo’s charge in bringing more food security to the region has made him the San Diego Business Journal’s 2026 CEO of the Year in the Nonprofit Organization category. Nearly Two Decades of Dedication Castillo assumed the role of Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank CEO in 2022 but has been an integral part of the organization’s leadership team for nearly two decades. Throughout his 18-year tenure, Castillo has driven major strategic and operational transformations to expand the Food Bank’s capacity and impact. He oversaw multimillion dollar infrastructure investments, including a 90,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art warehouse; expanded refrigeration systems; and helped establish a 9,000-square-foot volunteer center which helps the organization sustain service to more than 400,000 people each month. 

This year, 2026. he was named the San Diego CEO of the year by the San Diego Business Journal.