Donald “Don” De Sanctis
The Fondazione Donald De Sanctis was established to honor the life and legacy of Donald "Don" De Sanctis, a man who embodied the spirit of the American dream with determination, humility, and a vision for the future.
Born on March 17, 1932, in the Bronx, New York, to a family of Italian immigrants, Don grew up with the values of dedication and opportunity through determination to build his own future.
From a young age, Donald was motivated by a desire to contribute to something greater than himself: an America that could offer opportunities to anyone willing to work hard.
After military service, Don embarked on an engineering education at NYU, attending evening classes while working.
An avid reader and self-taught scholar, he fell in love with the history of American industrialization.
From there, his calling was born: to build, innovate, and leave a mark.
In 1977, he founded SDI Industries Inc. in Los Angeles, a pioneering company in industrial systems engineering and design. Under his leadership, SDI grew nationally and internationally, becoming a benchmark in the industry. But at the heart of his success was always one thing: people.
Don believed in relationships, trust, and shared growth.
Don believed in relationships, trust, and shared growth.
In the last years of his life, Don chose to give back what he had built, supporting young students at the University of San Diego and funding the Dominick and Barron De Sanctis STEM centre with a focus on Engineering and Entrepreneurship.
He also invested in student-led start-ups, helping the next generation realise their ideas and believe in themselves.
Don De Sanctis passed away on 10 June 2022, at the age of 90, leaving behind a family that proudly carries on his values and a network of colleagues, friends and students deeply marked by his example.
His humanity lives on today through every project undertaken by the Foundation, with the aim of building a fairer future for the most vulnerable.
We promote access to education, support innovative projects, and nurture the talent of those who dream big.
Don believed in one thing above all else: that every person, if supported, can change the world.
"You always taught me to work with a long-term view.
To build something that would remain, that would last.
Never chase immediate results or easy goals.
It wasn't easy, but thanks to this vision, I learned to make my own choices and navigate beyond familiar territory.
Now I can clearly see the beauty of the constellation unfolding before me, revealing the majesty, uniqueness, and greatness of the time we shared—inspired by your vision and leadership.
Thank you, Don, for leading me to unexplored places of the soul and heart, and for allowing me to live this extraordinary life."- Andrea di Bella
The Fondazione Donald De Sanctis exists to advance its vision
Donald “Don” De Sanctis was an extraordinary man, loved by all for his generosity, positive spirit and tireless dedication to the community.
Always ready to help those in need, Don left a deep impression on the lives of those who knew him.
One of his favorite quotes, which also guided his teachings, was by Clarence Francis:
“You can buy a man’s time, you can buy a man’s physical presence at a certain place, you can even buy a measured number of skilled muscular motions per hour or day. But you cannot buy enthusiasm, you cannot buy initiative, you cannot buy loyalty; you cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds, and souls. You have to earn these things.”
With his passing, a desire was born to transform his example into a concrete commitment, capable of bringing light and hope to children and young people facing enormous difficulties.
The Fondazione Donald De Sanctis bears his name to honour his memory, values and love of neighbour.
A life dedicated to others, now a mission.
What we do
We support vulnerable children and families with care, education, and research to build a better future.
Where we intervene
Networking to tackle rare diseases, discomfort, education and inclusion.