10-Year-Old Donates His Birthday to Veterans
With his 10th birthday approaching, Matthew didn't do the routine thing for kids his age. Instead, he asked for a specific gift – donations to Operation Hat Trick (OHT) to help injured veterans rebuild their lives.
Matthew learned about OHT after his sister Catherine brought him an OHT hat from Bowdoin College in Maine, where she attended a camp. Matthew’s mother, Amy, noticed the OHT hangtag on the hat and read the story about the program and its dedication to Navy SEALs Nate Hardy and Mike Koch. She also learned that a portion of each hat sale goes to support the recovery of wounded service members and veterans.
Amy discussed the OHT program with Matthew, and he decided to ask his family and friends to make donations to OHT instead of giving him a present for his birthday.
“It absolutely made my day,” said OHT founder Dot Sheehan. “But the generosity of this family didn’t stop at Matthew’s donation. Amy also asked how she might get her son’s Exeter youth hockey team involved. Matthew’s selfless act gives me such hope for the next generation and their desire to give back. This young man thought of others before he thought of himself and he should be commended.”
Matthew's response demonstrates the power of veterans' stories. When people learn about veterans' needs, they want to help. OHT's role is to attract support and funding to meet those needs.
