Our History

In 1947 a group of young San Francisco professionals, who were to become known as The Guardsmen, joined together to help disadvantaged children in the Bay Area. These young men recognized that they were among the most fortunate members of society, who had good careers, loving families, and many opportunities—past, present, and future. They decided they had a responsibility to “give back” in the interest of individual children and society at large. They were concerned that although at-risk youth were provided necessities and help by existing civic and community agencies, many children had no opportunity to experience life outside the confines of an often harsh inner-city environment.

Beyond this desire to give back, these founding members of The Guardsmen also enjoyed the camaraderie that came from working together. The Guardsmen recognized that they could combine fun, fellowship, and fundraising. To this end, The Guardsmen began hosting fundraising events—auctions, dinners, raffles, and a Christmas Tree Lot—to raise money for local children’s charities and programs. Membership of The Guardsmen was established entirely through word-of-mouth, and the organization quickly became a network of talented young individuals committed to building stronger communities. Over time, national, state, and civic leaders began to formally recognize The Guardsmen’s efforts and its vision for impacting youth through enhanced opportunities.

The Guardsmen’s first efforts revolved around the importance of athletics and outdoor activities. The Crystal Plunge Swimming Team was one of the first support recipients when The Guardsmen helped them travel to Chicago to compete in the AAU championships. Several team members went on to win gold medals at the 1948 Olympics. Early Guardsmen members recognized that children at risk benefited from a mentor relationship, particularly if it was cultivated in a setting conducive to developing friendships (ex: “the great outdoors”). Thus, The Guardsmen began a program that thrives today to send at-risk children and youth to summer camp: The Guardsmen Campership Program.

During a strategic review on the 50th anniversary of the organization in 1998, The Guardsmen identified a need for improved educational choices for at-risk youth, many of whom were lost in an unresponsive and dysfunctional education system that only reinforced cycles of poverty and violence. To address this need, The Guardsmen Scholarship Program was created to provide partial private school scholarships for at-risk children and youth.