This is Mateo’s Story.

Mateo is 9 years old and lives in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. He’s bright, curious, and always asking big questions—especially about how things work and why the stars come out.

But last summer, Mateo wasn’t exploring nature, building friendships, or discovering new passions. He was inside, alone, while his mom worked a double shift. Like thousands of kids in San Francisco, Mateo didn’t have access to summer camp or learning opportunities—not because of his potential, but because of his family’s income.

Until The Guardsmen stepped in.

Through a Guardsmen campership and scholarship, Mateo was able to spend a week in the redwoods and enroll in a tuition-supported school this fall. At camp, he learned how to pitch a tent and stargaze through a telescope. At school, he found a mentor who told him, for the first time, “You’re going to do something great.”

That’s the power of opportunity. And that’s what this campaign is about.

The 2025 Guardsmen Waitlist Class is raising $40,000 to send more kids like Mateo to camp and into schools where their brilliance is nurtured.

Because every child in San Francisco Bay Area deserves a summer full of wonder, a classroom that sees them, and a future that reflects their potential.

Help us make that happen. Donate today. Be part of Mateo’s story—and hundreds more like his.