As a part of Woodbury University’s celebrations during Founders’ Week, October 9 – 16, the Cusumano Family was granted the Movers & Shapers Award.  Each year this honor is bestowed upon a Burbank community member or family who demonstrates commitment to the improvement of the city’s economic standing, citizenry and community as a whole.  Few Burbank families would prove so worthy a collective candidate as the Cusumanos.

Charles Cusumano emigrated to the United States from Sicily, Italy in 1911 and married his wife, Anita in 1930.  Together they had four children, Ann, Charles (Chuck), Roger and Joseph.   By the 1970s Chuck and Roger created the Cusumano Real Estate Group, a name that has become synonymous with real estate development and community involvement and over the past five decades has grown to become one of the largest privately held property owners from San Diego to Ventura.

As growth continues, the company is focused on improving the efficiency and sustainability with the development of their Sustainable and Efficient Real Estate Operations Initiative.  The Initiative’s primary objectives are: Water Conservation, Natural Gas Conservation & Efficiency, Electrical Conservation & Efficiency, and Recycling.

While real estate is their business, the Cusumanos are known throughout the community for their love of family and generosity of spirit. Chuck and his wife Diane have five children, Michael, Charles, Christina, Daniel and Matthew; while Roger and his wife Evelyn, have two children, Julie and Anthony.  Many of these family members have also given back to their city by serving on boards for the City of Burbank, Providence-Saint Joseph Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, Burbank Unified Schools District, Leadership Burbank, Burbank Chamber of Commerce, and Burbank Board of Realtors.  And through The Cusumano Family Foundation, the family has graciously supported the Children’s Hospital – Los Angeles, Family Services Agency of Burbank, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, American Cancer Society, Burbank Police Officers Association Foundation, Leadership Burbank, March of Dimes, and Burbank Temporary Aid Center.