Mission Statement

It our mission… to inspire low-income high school students to believe in their college dreams. We provide the support , guidance  and financial aid advice they require to attend college.
Founded in 1995, we have guided hundreds of low-income students into colleges like UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc. with the financial support they needed. 

Many promising low-income middle school students do not believe that higher education is a realistic option either due to family economics or other disruptive circumstances in their lives, and so they cease striving for academic success when they enter high school.

Mentoring promising students throughout high school is the primary focus of the San Mateo Youth Foundation (SMYF).  Our modest scholarships, given to graduating 8th graders and other activities are designed to facilitate positive high school experiences and opportunities for the SMYF to provide guidance. After guiding hundreds of students on to excellent colleges, the SMYF is now blessed with a core group of the best, most socially responsible and community minded SMYF alumni who have become mentors to the current high school students.  Our mentors are multi-ethnic, multilingual, successful college students and young professionals who have succeeded despite facing the same sorts of problems our current high school students must overcome.  Our mentors are the perfect role models and community leaders that we hoped to develop when the program began. 

WHAT WE DO



   “Help students take control of their lives through education”

  • We provide a supportive, family-like community in which our students can thrive
  • Deliver a range of fun and engaging trips to colleges, camps and museums so students and mentors have frequent contact with one another enabling them to nurture positive relationships

  • Inspire a sense of hope and opportunity and guide them to develop a high school and life plan that can lead to higher education  

  • Each student is individually guided through the financial aid and college admission processes with a focus in college essay and scholarship writing

WHO WE ARE





Student Centric
We're here to support, inspire and guide them

Compassionate and Supportive
This is about real students with real challenges. Each student matters and whenever possible we become the big brother or big sister that family difficulties might lead them to need

Skilled
Our mentors are successful college and program graduates from background like the students we target  

Collaborative
We are inclusive and work in partnership with college admission departments and other community non-profits whenever possible