Our Mission
To make out of school time (OST) activity planning and management easy for schools, community partners, and parents while providing service providers an equitable platform to reach customers. As a public benefit company (B-Corp), our social mission is to sponsor and organize OST programs that help advance underserved communities.
Our Values
Foster trusted partnerships
Through close collaboration with key stakeholders, including program providers, schools, community partners, and families, we strive to build service offerings and tools that empower communities, enable and advance young people, and drive growth and operational efficiency.
Advocate for equity and serve all communities
We are focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through the sponsorship and organization of OST programs that center around underserved communities.
Protect the privacy and data of our stakeholders
We are steadfast in our commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards and protect the privacy and data of our families, providers, schools, and community partners.
Our Story
As parents of active school-aged children, Kiddo's co-founders Garrick and Matt were frustrated with the absence of a single digital space to research and manage after-school and summer programs for their children. The information sources available consisted of paper flyers sent home from school and browser searches, which generated incomplete results with minimal information about the quality of the service providers and their programs. Garrick and Matt also wanted to take meaningful social action that would provide OST opportunities for children in underserved communities. The Covid-19 pandemic created an immediate sense of urgency to launch Kiddo because the pandemic has deeply exacerbated the social disparity in our communities, while crippling small businesses, including many OST activity providers.
Garrick’s commitment to education started with his first entrepreneurial venture that focused on building sister-school partnerships between public school districts in the US and in China. He continued to launch a second education venture in collaboration with Columbia University, where he received his MBA. The collaboration with Columbia University, Teachers College, focused on bringing students from different parts of the world and from different socioeconomic backgrounds together to investigate complex issues and participate as researchers, engineers, and ethical and creative contributors to academia. Through Kiddo, Garrick and Matt are able to help provide valuable OST experiences to children of all backgrounds.
Kiddo is a multi-dimensional, mission-focused company that provides families and OST program providers a trustworthy platform to connect, while delivering schools and community partners comprehensive tools that streamline OST activity planning and management
Our Advisors & Mentors
Dr. Chris Clouet is a former special advisor to the Commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). His work with districts focuses on providing greater access to technical support to promote system operational efficiency and district health in the areas of financial stability, positive climate and culture, equitable outcomes, effective board governance, transformative leadership, high quality instruction, and engaging content/curriculum.
As a superintendent of schools for the last two decades, Dr. Clouet has led diverse urban, suburban and rural districts throughout Connecticut and in New York. He brings extensive knowledge in implementing innovative programs that enhance and emphasize student achievement, the instructional core, and student voice as keys to district improvement and overall system success. Dr. Clouet’s international experience includes leading educator visits, research, and professional learning in various other countries. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he began his classroom career in Bridgeport Public Schools as an elementary and secondary educator teaching bilingual, English as a Second Language (ESL), math, language arts, World Language and communications media as well as serving as an ESL instructor in the Adult Education program.
Ani Matson is the Founder and President of Digital Marketing Strategies (DMS), an independent consultancy that helps clients make core transformations in marketing strategy and operations to power growth through digital advantage. Ani is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and currently teaches the “In Search of the Big Idea” course at Georgetown University’s Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications program. She is also the President of the DC Chapter of the CMO Club and a Board Member of Every Mind, a non-profit organization that empowers individuals to reach optimal mental wellness.
Ani has extensive strategic marketing expertise, and before launching DMS enjoyed a twenty-year career in a broad range of leadership positions that cut across marketing strategy, digital transformation and data analytics. She was formerly the Chief Marketing Officer for the National Education Association’s Member Benefits Corporation.
Kimberly Rusnak is the Project Director of the Children’s Opportunity Fund. Funded jointly by the government of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Montgomery County Public Schools to leverage public funds to attract private investment, the Children’s Opportunity Fund, champions, plans and funds strategic investments that improve the lives of low-income children and families in the county. With a focus on innovative, evidence-informed efforts targeted at closing the opportunity gap, the Fund identifies priority areas for investment based on unmet need, aligns resources toward effective multi-sector collaborations serving the county’s most vulnerable youth and their families, and seeks new funding sources.
Through her previous experience as a Program Officer with the Social Innovation Fund, she oversaw a portfolio of innovative interventions ranging from cradle to career. She has always been drawn to public service and spent three years in Senegal with the Peace Corps and also volunteered with AmeriCorps through Hands On Atlanta.
Cindy Stewart Rivarde joins the Kiddo mentor team through Maryland Tech Council’s Venture Mentoring Services. Cindy serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). She combines her extensive experience and demonstrated success in creating vibrant downtown spaces, encouraging economic growth, and promoting cultural initiatives to lead REDI in new and inventive ways that attract, grow, and retain businesses within the City of Rockville.
Prior to joining REDI, Cindy served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Coral Springs, Florida and as the Community and Economic Developer for the City of Modesto, California. She obtained her law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, a master of fine art in painting from Towson University, and a bachelor of arts degree in dramatic art/studio art from the University of North Carolina.
Sally Sternbach is a Maryland Tech Council Venture Mentoring Services Managing Committee member and a board member of the Nonprofit Village and National Philharmonic. Prior to retiring in 2016, she led the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and Rockville Economic Development, Inc. over a span of 14 years. Sally spent 19 years with AT&T federal sector, taught accounting and finance, ran a social services non-profit in NYC and a tourism development organization in West Virginia.