A Life of Service.
A Commitment to Hamilton’s Students.
I’m Rafael Colon: husband, dad, coach, proud volunteer, and Hamilton resident. Everything I do is guided by this belief: Our communities are stronger when we work together. This is my home, and I am committed to giving back.
My mom moved our family here when I was a kid, for the schools.
She wanted the best for her children, and Hamilton delivered. Now, I am raising my family here with the same trust in that community and the same belief in the power of a great education.
This is my home, and I am committed to giving back.
I’ve always believed in showing up when it mattered the most.
Some of the experiences that have meant the most to me began simply because people needed help.
My commitment to helping others is also deeply personal.
When my father-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, my wife and I organized a benefit in his honor. With the generosity of friends, family, and members of the community, we raised approximately $11,000, which we donated to Penn Medicine in Philadelphia.
That experience showed me what can happen when a community rallies around a family during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, I joined community members gathering at Columbus Park to collect and load trucks with food, clothing, and other supplies. At the time, I was unemployed and didn't have much financially to give, so I used something I could offer: music. I DJed a fundraiser, raised several hundred dollars, and donated the proceeds to the Puerto Rican Civic Association of Trenton.
When the COVID-19 pandemic left families throughout Mercer County struggling, my wife and I worked alongside community members and local groups to help deliver food to people who needed it. I happened to have a broken leg at the time, but there was work to be done, and we found a way to do it.
Food insecurity continues to be an issue I care deeply about. When families face unexpected gaps in assistance, I respond by organizing food collections, and I continue to hold food drives whenever the opportunity arises.
That concern extends to our schools, where hunger can have a real impact on a student's ability to focus, learn, and thrive. No child should have to sit in a classroom worrying about where their next meal will come from.
For the past 4 years, I’ve been involved with the Hamilton Township Recreation Baseball Association (HTRBA).
I've had the privilege of coaching two division championship teams, in 2025 and 2026, and serving twice as an assistant All-Star coach.
For three years, I have also served on HTRBA's Board of Directors.
Coaching has given me an opportunity to know Hamilton's kids and families in a completely different way. Youth sports aren't only about wins and losses. They're about teaching kids perseverance, teamwork, responsibility, confidence, and how to support the people around them.
Those are lessons I carry with me when I think about our schools as well.
I believe in being an active, engaged citizen. Belonging means participating.
Participation matters. Over the years, I've taken an active role in local civic and community organizations, including serving on a local committee and its executive board, where I currently serve as Secretary. These experiences have given me opportunities to work with others, organize around issues that matter to our community, listen to different perspectives, and help turn ideas into action.
I am also proud of my heritage and have been active in celebrating and representing my culture within our community. I am a member of Our Lady of Sorrows–St. Anthony Parish and believe that being part of a community means contributing to it.
