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John Whang and Helen Chong
John Whang and Helen Chong have a unique connection to TMF. As a Marine, John served alongside—and became friends with—1stLt Travis Manion. “I graduated a few years ahead of Travis from the Naval Academy,” says John, “but we served together on my third and final deployment with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.”
Because of John’s connection to Travis and close friendships with two members of TMF’s Board of Directors, John and Helen have long been part of the Spartan family. Their dedication to and support of TMF’s mission have been unfailing and inspiring.
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“Many of us now separated from active duty still carry a strong sense of service,” says John, “whether that be to our country or community, as well as a commitment to carry on the legacies of those we served alongside. TMF’s ethos, ‘If Not Me, Then Who…’, captures the essence of that commitment, knowing that being a force for positive change and support is a never-ending pursuit.”
Though John and Helen live in San Jose, CA, balancing busy careers in commercial real estate and supply chain management, and three active children, they continually make time to support TMF, including by attending the Annual “If Not Me, Then Who…” Gala every December in Philadelphia.
“TMF’s mission is a call to action to not only support veterans and families, but anyone looking to make a positive impact in their community,” says John. “Service comes in many forms, best exemplified by Travis and all those currently in uniform, but it can also be through programs like Character Does Matter powered by UA Freedom, which instills lasting values. Experiencing the CDM program can be a transformative journey, especially for those who decide to be the one to initiate that positive ripple effect.”
Matt and Kristen Tormenti
Shortly after moving to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a decade ago, Dr. Matt Tormenti, a neurosurgeon in private practice, saw a Facebook post about Travis Manion. It mentioned that Travis had been a Naval Academy wrestler. Matt had wrestled at Virginia Tech and he and Travis were about the same age.
“I realized, I’ve been in the same room with this guy,“ Matt said. “Every year we would wrestle a tournament at Annapolis. Travis and I were in the same room and wrestled on the same mats. Our lives went in different directions after that shared experience, but I wound up living near where he grew up.“
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That coincidence led Matt and his wife, Kristen, to TMF, where they learned more about Travis and his namesake foundation. Travis’s “If Not Me, Then Who…” ethos immediately resonated with them.
“TMF really seems to act as a force multiplier,” said Kristen. “Not only is it helping veterans, but it’s empowering them to become instruments of good for their community, particularly youth. That can really have a compounding effect over time.”
In 2018, Matt was in business school at the University of Pennsylvania. He and Kristen decided to turn the traditional end-of-semester get-together into a fundraiser pool party for TMF. As it turned out, many of Matt’s classmates were active-duty military personnel and veterans. “Several of them told us how TMF had helped their friends and the families of those friends,” said Matt. “One even shared a testimonial from her fallen teammate’s wife, who told us TMF had changed the course of her life. After losing her husband, getting involved with TMF gave her a purpose again.”
The following year, the party became known as the Mattalina Wine Mixer, named after Matt’s love of the movie “Step Brothers.” “It was another huge success,” Kristen said, “not only with former classmates of Matt’s, but a lot of our local friends as well.” That year, the couple raised $12,000 for TMF.
In August 2023, after a few-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Matt and Kristen held their third Mattalina Wine Mixer — their biggest success to date. “It was awesome,” said Matt. “Some of my former classmates came back, and a lot more of our local friends were there.” As a result, the event raised more than $22,000 for TMF.
“Contributing to Travis Manion Foundation’s mission, we’ve found not just fulfillment,” Matt added, “but a profound sense of purpose. It’s not just about raising funds, but about raising hope and the spirit of others.”
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