From Student to Parent to Steward
On any given afternoon at Gulliver, Mathew Gutierrez ‘04, and his wife Giselle, can be found on the sidelines of the baseball field watching their children grow up in the same community that shaped him. And they are often joined by Mathew’s mother, Dr. Ana Duarte, who also enjoys watching her grandchildren in action.
“It’s a lifelong connection,” he said. “Gulliver opened countless doors for me academically, socially, and professionally. The friendships I formed, and the lessons I learned, have lasted a lifetime.”
Now, he is watching those same opportunities and lessons take root in his children, Joshua, a ninth grader, and Jade, who is in PK. “It’s a gift to see them begin to build their own paths within a community that shaped mine,” he said.
Choosing Gulliver for them was simple, but their experience unfolded in ways he did not expect.
“What I didn’t anticipate was how much joy it would bring to watch my kids thrive here,” he said. “Joshua and Jade are genuinely happy. They are curious, engaged, and surrounded by teachers and friends who constantly challenge them to be better. My hope is that they emerge as thoughtful, principled leaders who are confident in who they are and generous with what they earn.”
That perspective has shaped how the family approaches giving. “A legacy is not just something you inherit. It’s something you have a responsibility to carry forward,” he said, as an alumnus, parent, and now steward of the school that shaped him. “We want to ensure the same opportunities I had are available for the next generation.”
This spring, Mathew’s family made a gift to support the baseball program, naming the field’s grandstand and shade structure The Children’s Skin Center Grandstand. As part of the dedication, the family was welcomed onto the field to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the season’s home opener at the Marian C. Krutulis PK-8 Campus. This gift reflects a larger idea at Gulliver – that philanthropy can be deeply meaningful and uniquely tailored to what each family values most.
“This gift allowed us to promote two things we care about deeply: Gulliver baseball and my family’s work in dermatology. Sun protection has been central to my mother’s dermatology practice, The Children’s Skin Center, which my wife Giselle recently joined as a nurse practitioner,” said Mathew. “I hope our family’s gift sets an example of how generosity can strengthen the programs that help our children grow.”
Mathew’s family story illustrates something larger about Gulliver families, whose impact is felt all across our community. They help shape the life of the school, but their influence extends far beyond it, into the communities they serve and the city they help build.
As a high-stakes litigation lawyer, Mathew works at the intersection of business and government, representing corporate interests, state agencies, senior government officials, and political parties and candidates in disputes involving significant financial exposure, regulatory proceedings, and constitutional challenges. Giselle is a nurse practitioner who spearheads the aesthetics and wellness practice at the Children’s Skin Center, and she has been deeply involved in Gulliver’s baseball community as a team mom for the past three years. And Dr. Ana Duarte founded the Children’s Skin Center in 1995 and serves as Director of Dermatology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she has spent decades caring for South Florida families.
That connection between school and community is what Mathew sees as most important. “Strong schools matter everywhere. But right now, their role is especially vital in our community as Miami becomes one of the most dynamic and internationally connected cities in the world,” he said. “Schools shape children, and children shape their communities. Gulliver has always risen to that responsibility. My hope is that it continues to do so for the next 100 years.”
Gulliver’s next 100 years will be strengthened by families like these, who are shaped by the school and, in turn, help shape our community.
