Funding support to a specific athlete is generally not tax-deductible.
Contact us to learn about tax-deductible options.

Born in California and raised on an avocado ranch in Cambria, Mario always wanted to be a professional athlete. His first love of sport came in the form of soccer. Mario would train everyday with his cousin when not helping his parents work, however, in high school, a knee injury took him off the pitch, but guided him toward running. Since then, Mario has gone on to become a 5-time USATF Trail National Champion, ranging in distances from 10k to 100k, and 3-time USATF Trail Runner of the Year. Additionally, he has competed for 6 USA Teams in a variety of trail, mountain, and ultra distances.

Mario's top three paddions in life are God, family, and running. Mario found his connection with trail running specifically because, "I love being outside as much as possible. I could climb mountains every single day because I feel at home in them. Backpacking trips with different running routes is pretty much my favorite thing ever." As for his long-term aspirations for making an impact in the sport, he says, "I'd love to do public speaking and inspire runners to find deeper connections with their running. I'd also like to help runners develop an identity outside of running so that they don't get depressed when running isn't going well. I've found to have more connection to the Latino population since they connect with me easier."