Tell Your Story

Ioana: Finding Connection, Creating Community

I first became involved with the Travis Manion Foundation through the Character Does Matter program in 2024. What started as an opportunity to serve quickly became something much deeper for me.

I found a community that understood something I had been craving for a long time: the power of intentional connection, shared purpose, service, and showing up for one another. Through TMF, I have met people whose stories have challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me that we all have something to give.

Being part of TMF has changed the way I think about leadership and service. I used to think leadership was largely about what you could accomplish or how much you could carry. TMF has taught me that leadership can be as simple—and as powerful—as creating space for someone else to feel seen, heard, and connected.

That lesson has followed me into everything I do. I’ve had the opportunity to serve alongside veterans, families, students, athletes, and community members through Character Does Matter, the Spartan Leadership Program, community service projects, and events that honor the legacy of our fallen. Every experience has reinforced the same belief: connection can change the trajectory of a life.

TMF has also helped me reconnect with parts of myself I had lost along the way. It has given me permission to lead with compassion, to embrace vulnerability, and to recognize that my greatest contribution may not be having all the answers—it may be helping people find their own strength.

My hope for the future is that no veteran, family of the fallen, or young person ever feels like they have to navigate life alone. I hope we continue building communities where service is lived, sacrifice is remembered, character is developed, and the next generation understands that they have both the responsibility and the ability to make a difference.

I came to TMF wanting to serve. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had found a community that was helping me become a better leader, mother, wife, friend, and human being.

And now, I want to help build that same sense of belonging for others.

Paul: A Better Way

Being part of the Travis Manion Foundation community has given me another reason to push myself and to believe in better ways to live. It has helped me navigate the path of personal growth and continuous improvement, reminding me to keep challenging myself and striving to become a better version of who I am. I first became involved through the annual rucks, which gave me an opportunity to connect with the Foundation and its community in a meaningful way.

In the years ahead, my hope for veterans and families of the fallen is that they find peace, learn to forgive themselves, and remember to take care of themselves along the way. I hope they are able to enjoy the rest of their lives and truly see themselves for who they are—the human heroes they have always been. For future generations, I hope they carry that same sense of purpose, compassion, and appreciation for the sacrifices of others.

Ezra: For Travis

Being part of TMF has enabled me to serve the community and develop my skills as a leader. I was first involved through volunteering with “Ruck for a Cause” in December of 2022, a collaboration between TMF and Operation Homefront organized by local area representative, Michael Battaglino, to ruck several bags of toys to a local children’s shelter; of note, the ruck was also in memory of SGM James Sartor. Since then, I’ve participated in the Manion WOD, Extortion17 ruck/run, 9/11 Heroes Run, and various TMF events in the community.

Taylor: There is Hope

I have met Aaron who helps run the OKC chapter. Before meeting him, I had been told, “I got you,” well, I was alone and after 15 years of career firefighting and 6 years in the Army. I was broken. I got medically retired from both and the reason I was so attracted to those jobs, was simply the camaraderie and the brotherhood. I never really experienced that until as of late and he has helped change my trajectory for life more than he realizes. I originally donated to the cause because I knew of the mission and the men lost, but I never anticipated it turning into hope. I loved firefighting and truly helping people because I never wanted anyone to feel the way I felt inside with depression, shame, and just feeling unworthy of love. What came with firefighting was seeing the most heartbreaking things, especially when it comes to kids. I was broken. And that’s when I knew it was time to step away and actually start to get help for myself, but I didn’t know what to do. As far as the Army goes, I served in the OKARNG as an 11B/Scout. I love how when you are going through basic, they are teaching you that it’s about the people around you. You can’t let them down and if they need help you help. I always get asked, “what do you miss the most?” I smile and say the friendships. God then lead to real estate and I found Homes for Heroes which is all about veterans and other people as well. This world needs authenticity, love and God. Everyone at the end of the day wants recognition of some kind. Even a pat on the back saying good job! I am no where near perfect, but for those who read the good book, 2 Corinthians 4 is my favorite chapter in the Bible when it comes to being in the thick of it. One verse simply says, “for what we see is transient, but what is unseen is eternal.” Veterans and everyone else are struggling with something. There is so much pain out there and I try to use my words to encourage people and let them know they aren’t alone. Aaron was the first person who I had no connection with that came into my life and is just making me feel seen and heard. He has helped me so much and i hope I can do the same for someone else. I was in the VA parking lot last year and kept hearing in my head, “just do yourself a favor and end it.” Right then is when I took my mental health serious and realizing how much I was in repair. Don’t ever give up. Keep fighting. Isolation kills and remember that even in that worse moment, it will pass. Love you guys and we pray for vets every night before bed.

Sven: God took my sight away to open my eyes…

My name is “Sveno”, and I am a recovered blind quadriplegic! I had a TBI and was in a coma and when I woke up, still blind a quadriplegic… I heard a voice saying “I need you to work with students!”. BUT I not only didn’t like children before my TBI, I had even abandoned my own son… so I would have been the LAST person on earth to want to work with students!! Every day in the hospital I would hear that voice… and argue with it… “NOT ME… I am a horrible Father and everyone that knows me knows I don’t like kids!” and I didn’t heal at all… until months later I finally got sick of arguing with the voice… and I said “Fine… I’ll be the BEST blind quadriplegic youth speaker, writer or volunteer… if someone will wheel me out on stage I can spin tales of danger, adventure and intrigue… and do my best to inspire students!” I made that pledge with no expectation of healing… I had not healed at all and the doctors had given me no hope of recovery. BUT moments after making that pledge… I felt a physical WAVE through my body from head to toe… and I slowly… very slowly (8 months) began to heal and made a full miraculous recovery over the next year. I have dedicated my life to serving, volunteering and inspiring youth ever since!! First I returned home and became the Father I should have always been, then I began working in schools, orphanages and kids camps all over the world. I believe I was CALLED to serve youth… and God took my sight away (blind), caused me to be still (paralyzed), so that I would listen to HIM and realize I had an amazing gift within me… and there were children that needed me!

Wounded Warrior Project introduced me to the Travis Manion Foundation at the 2024 Honor Project in Phoenix, AZ. I quickly became a TMF volunteer and got certified as a CDM Mentor. I have had the privilege to volunteer at two school mentoring programs and absolutely LOVE how committed TMF is to growing young men and women of CHARACTER!!

Mary Ann: Run to Remember 9/11

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, I was driving up the New Jersey Garden State Parkway. I saw smoke coming from one of the World Trade Center towers and I watched smoke billow out as the second plane hit. Both towers collapsed as I drove home to my daughters. For weeks, smoke streamed down the coast from New York City. So many memorials and heartbreaking stories about people just going to work, on the planes, the lost firefighters and first responders. Life changed in an instant.

By 2006, my daughters and I had moved to San Diego. My girls told me there was no mention or moment of silence for 9/11 at their new schools, so we set out to find local events to ensure we never forgot.

Five years later, in 2011, we ran our first Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes 5K in Monterey Bay, near my daughter’s college. I still vividly remember running behind a firefighter with “343” tattooed on his calf.

Since 2012, I’ve participated in all of the 9/11 Heroes Runs in San Diego. At every race, the memorial signs remind us of the young lives lost. My heart is always with my cousin Lisa as I run in memory of her son, Marine Jeromy D. West, killed in action in 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thank you to the Travis Manion Foundation for holding these events year after year. This year, I’ll be running virtually in Kinsale, Ireland, near the Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance, a sacred site honoring Father Mychal Judge and the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11.

Remembering those we lost on 9/11 and the heroes who stepped up afterward is so important. I’ll see you next year! God bless us all.

— Mary Ann Downing Fey, San Diego
with 15 Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes 5K Run T shirts

Natanya: From “The Voice of Navy Wrestling” to TMF Spartan

“I have been involved with TMF before Travis’ story ever had to be told.” It has taken me almost 20 years to come up with this simple but oh so meaningful one-sentence response when anyone now asks me how I became involved with the Travis Manion Foundation.

TMF and its work on behalf of veterans, families of fallen heroes, and youth are deeply personal to me. Not just because I am a DoD civilian helping contribute to ensuring the safety of our warfighters, and not just because I have been a USNA Sponsor Mom for the past +20 years; but as “The Voice of Navy Wrestling,” I had the privilege of announcing Travis during his entire competitive career at the Academy. As I got to know Travis, I got to know his family as they came to every home match and often hit the road for the away ones. Wherever Navy Wrestling was, the Manion family was there in some capacity.

It has been a unique seat for me to both watch and contribute to the growth in impact and scale of TMF since its founding. Along my journey I have met more incredible people than I can count, one that so far has spanned being the Race Director for the Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Run, the co-coordinator for numerous Operation Legacy service projects, a speaker at several Manion WODs, a mentor to youth in the Character Does Matter program, launching and leading The Honor Project at the United States Naval Academy, a participant in TMF’s Extortion 17 Memorial Ruck, and now being the Chapter Leader for TMF Annapolis. In all of these opportunities and more, I have been given the most amazing gift; the ability to connect with and make a difference in people’s lives, even in the smallest of ways.

The beauty of what Travis’ mom Janet started in TMF, and that is carried on to this day by Travis’ sister Ryan and his father Tom, himself a retired Marine, is five-fold: 1) the unwavering support given to veterans, 2) the care given to surviving families of the fallen, 3) the instilling of character and leadership in today’s youth, 4) the notion that service to each other and community is important, and 5) providing the opportunity every year in 90+ locations around the the world to not just remember and honor all whom we have lost since 9/11, but to express our gratitude to and for our incredible first responders for what they do every day.

My hope is that we all endeavor to care for one another as humans and we choose to contribute something of meaning as part of the precious life each of us has been granted. I will conclude by simply saying this; TMF serves as a beacon of hope for many who thought they had none and strives to impact lives every day. Ask yourself “If Not Me Then Who,” and what you then do with the answer you come up with may just surprise you.

Kris: If Not Now, Then When?

I first connected with Travis Manion Foundation back in 2018 during OP Vet Fest in Round Rock, Texas. They had a booth and I was the food vendor.

I stopped by and listened to Travis’s story and thought I would love to be able to give back to my committee in similar ways.

Monica and Chris were awesome and passionate leaders of the chapter and I wanted to be a part of that.

I got involved with the Character Does Matter program and the 9/11 Heroes Run with the Austin, TX chapter.

At the same time, I met The Mission Continues Platoon and started working with them, providing food and support on service projects. The opportunity came about to take on the role as Austin Platoon leader with TMC in 2020.

I still supported TMF with Op Legacy projects, we dedicated our community garden at VFW 4443 to Captain Paul Pena whose mother is a Gold Star family member and support during the 9/11 Heroes Run.

I honor my Grandfather who served in Army and my service dog, Chief during the 5k Ruck.

With the merge of TMC into TMF, it only felt like divine intervention to merge back into where my veteran service journey started at TMF.

My heart has been forever changed and my life has been forever impacted by the Travis Manion Foundation, its staff, volunteers, Gold Star families and the community it supports.

Danny: Just a guy who wants tomorrow to be better than yesterday…….for EVERYBODY!

As an Honorable US Army Veteran I was glad to have found #TMF back in 2025.
A friend inside the organization reached out. Jamie Quadrozzi is her name.
She used to work for the Miami Dolphins and I am the CEO and founder of TPP-The Positive Porpoise Miami Dolphins Fan Club Inc. which is the largest charitable fan organization of it’s kind in the World in the Dolphins community raising over $580,000 to date for diverse charities.
I’ve seen Veteran struggles up close. Friends who ended up homeless. That’s the thing that hits hardest for me. I simply cannot understand how we as a Nation allow this to happen and don’t do more.
In the future I sincerely hope that we educate our youth to know, honor and respect the Military needs as they are the one backbone that ensures any Freedoms Americans have at all.

Marten: Service Never Ends: Finding My Next Mission

After retiring from the military and later from federal service, I found myself asking a question many veterans face: What does service look like now? I had spent much of my life serving something bigger than myself, and I knew I wasn’t ready for that chapter to end.

The Travis Manion Foundation helped me realize that service doesn’t end. It simply takes on a new purpose.

One memory stands out above all the others. It was my first Travis Manion Foundation Back-to-School event. I arrived thinking I was there to make a difference by talking with students about character strengths like courage, perseverance, and integrity. What I didn’t expect was how much they would impact me.

As the day went on, I found myself listening more than talking. I heard students share their dreams, their excitement, and even some of their worries. Their smiles and openness reminded me that sometimes the greatest act of service isn’t offering advice. It’s making someone feel seen, heard, and valued.

I drove home that day realizing I had received far more than I had given. Those conversations continue to inspire me every time I volunteer.

That experience led me to become even more involved with the Foundation. I’ve been honored to serve as a Character Does Matter Mentor, participate in Service Legacy Projects, and grow alongside incredible leaders as a member of Spartan Leadership Program Cohort 4. Each experience has reinforced that leadership is about serving others with humility and purpose.

My hope is that every veteran discovers a new mission after military service, that families of the fallen continue to see their loved ones’ legacies honored through action, and that future generations understand that character is measured by how we serve others.

The Travis Manion Foundation didn’t just give me opportunities to volunteer. It reminded me that purpose doesn’t retire. It simply finds new ways to serve.

Aaron: The Next Mission: Finding Purpose Through Service After Loss

Joining the Travis Manion Foundation didn’t simply give me another place to volunteer, it gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

After retiring from the Army and later losing my wife, Staff Sgt. Jari J. Hudgins, I spent a long time trying to understand what service looked like without a military uniform. Like many veterans and Gold Star families, I struggled with the transition from serving a mission every day to trying to rediscover where I belonged. Travis Manion Foundation helped me realize that service doesn’t end when military service ends. It simply changes.

I first became involved after learning about the Foundation’s mission and its commitment to empowering veterans, families of the fallen, and inspired civilians to continue serving their communities. That mission immediately resonated with me because it reflected the values I had lived throughout my Army career. I wanted to continue honoring those who gave everything, not only by remembering their sacrifice, but by living a life worthy of it.

Through the Foundation, I found opportunities to mentor young people through Character Does Matter presentations, organize community service projects honoring fallen heroes, lead Teams of Character initiatives with local schools, and connect veterans with meaningful opportunities to continue serving. I’ve watched high school students sit beside veterans they’ve never met, children raise money for hospitalized kids, and volunteers come together to honor the legacy of fallen service members through acts of service. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that service is one of the most powerful ways we can bring people together.

Perhaps the greatest impact TMF has had on my life is reminding me that purpose can grow from pain. It has given me a community of people who believe that leadership is measured not by titles, but by how we choose to serve others. It has also allowed me to transform my own loss into something that can help others find hope, connection, and purpose.

As I look to the future, my hope is that we continue building communities where veterans never feel like their service ended when they hung up the uniform, where families of the fallen know they will never walk alone, and where the next generation understands that character is demonstrated through action, not words. I hope we continue teaching young people that leadership is about integrity, compassion, and the willingness to serve something greater than themselves.

If there is one lesson I hope future generations carry forward, it is that service is not defined by military service alone. Every person has the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life. Whether it’s mentoring a student, checking on a neighbor, honoring a fallen hero through community service, or simply showing up for someone during their hardest season, those acts create stronger communities and lasting legacies.

For me, the Travis Manion Foundation has never been just an organization. It has been a reminder that the words “If Not Me, Then Who…” are more than a motto, they are a daily challenge to continue serving, leading, and investing in others. That’s the legacy I hope we leave for future generations.

Jessica: Finding my way back through service

I stumbled across the Travis Manion Foundation through a VA newsletter that happened to find me at exactly the right time. I read the words, “If Not Me, Then Who…” and immediately felt a connection.

A few months earlier, I had left my career in the medical field to begin graduate school. While working in a psychiatric unit, I made the decision to transfer to my local COVID unit because I wanted to do more during a time that now feels almost unreal to look back on. The experience changed me in ways I didn’t fully recognize, and like many veterans, I handled it the way the Army had taught me to—by pushing through.

Finding TMF changed that.

I was welcomed with open arms and reminded that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. At a time when I felt disconnected from the military community, TMF helped me reconnect for all the right reasons. It gave me purpose, community, and hope.

Since then, I’ve earned my master’s degree and a Doctor of Social Work degree specializing in military behavioral health. Today, I have the privilege of serving veterans and first responders while helping them find the same sense of belonging that TMF helped me rediscover.

I know firsthand what it means to find your tribe again. That’s why I’m passionate about creating spaces where others can reconnect, heal, and continue living lives of character, service, and leadership.

Florian: Leaving my Legacy!

My journey with the Travis Manion Foundation began with a simple gift from one of my mentors—a Navy Master Chief who handed me a copy of Brothers Forever. I read the book with an open mind and an open heart, never expecting how deeply it would impact me.

As an active duty service member, I understood sacrifice. I knew what it meant to leave behind family, friends, and loved ones at a moment’s notice to answer our nation’s call. But reading the story of Travis Manion and Brendan Looney and reminded me that military service is about so much more than duty. It’s about the bonds we build with people who become family through shared hardship, unwavering trust, and selfless service. Their story challenged me to think beyond my own service and ask myself what kind of legacy I wanted to leave.

After finishing the book, I searched for ways to become involved with the Travis Manion Foundation. I discovered the Joggin’ for Frogmen 5K and decided to participate. What I found was far more than a race. I met an incredible community of people united by service, sacrifice, and a desire to make a difference. Years later, many of those friendships remain strong, and every year I look forward to reconnecting with them. Those relationships have become one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.

The Foundation’s message, “If Not Me, Then Who…”, has become more than a motto to me—it has become a way of life. It reminds me that leadership isn’t about waiting for someone else to step forward. It’s about recognizing that each of us has the ability and responsibility to serve our communities, mentor the next generation, and leave the world better than we found it.

That belief inspired me to become a Hampton Roads Chapter Lead. My goal is to grow our chapter by bringing more people into this mission, expanding opportunities for volunteer service, investing in our youth, and showing others that every act of service—no matter how big or small—can create lasting change. I want people to discover the same sense of purpose that I found through this organization.

The Travis Manion Foundation has reinforced what I believe to be one of life’s greatest truths: service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues through the way we lead, the way we mentor, and the way we show up for our communities every single day.

I am grateful to be part of this extraordinary organization and honored to stand alongside veterans, families of the fallen, and volunteers who continue to live out Travis Manion’s legacy. I look forward to helping grow that legacy for years to come because I truly believe that when ordinary people choose to serve others, extraordinary things happen.

Shaun: Connections through Service

It brought a sense of camaraderie and allowed me to connect with those who’ve also served. Also, I was Army and my brother served in the USMC, so it’s a great way for us to bond.

It brought back that sense of pride from when I did wear the uniform. I am part of the Wenonah NJ American Legion Post 192 and enjoy being involved with veteran and first responder activities.

I became involved through the Heroes Run 5K, and look forward to it every year. I promote it within my local VSO and try to get others involved.

I hope more people realize how connected we all are in our communities through service. The Travis Manion Foundation is also a great way to get out and support those who served their nation and defended the American way of life, and educate future generations on the importance of service.

Lisa: Fredrick’s Legacy Lives Through My Service

I believe in investing in our nation’s veterans, service members, and families of the fallen because their service and sacrifice continue long after military service ends and long after a family experiences a devastating loss.

My son, Army Specialist Fredrick Jenkins III, passed away in 2015 while stationed in Alaska. He was only 24 years old. Fredrick’s passing forever changed my life, but it also strengthened my commitment to honoring his service and carrying his legacy forward through service to others.

As President of the Department of Georgia American Gold Star Mothers, I work alongside other mothers who understand what it means to carry both profound grief and an enduring sense of purpose. We honor our children through remembrance, advocacy, community service, and support for veterans, military families, and other families of the fallen. For us, service is one of the ways love continues.

I believe veterans and families of the fallen have experiences, strength, and wisdom that can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. When they are given opportunities to mentor and serve, they help teach the next generation about character, courage, responsibility, compassion, and the importance of contributing to something greater than oneself.

The Travis Manion Foundation’s message, “If Not Me, Then Who…,” speaks to me because it turns remembrance into action. It challenges each of us to recognize that we have something meaningful to contribute, even after life has changed us in ways we never expected.

I support the Travis Manion Foundation because it recognizes that veterans and families of the fallen are not defined only by what they have endured. We are also leaders, mentors, advocates, and servants in our communities. By investing in these individuals, the Foundation helps preserve the values of those we have lost while building stronger communities for the future.

Fredrick’s life and service continue to guide mine. Every time I serve another family, support a veteran, or help ensure that our fallen heroes are remembered, I carry his legacy forward.

Presley: My Journey with TMF

Summer of 2025. I was fresh out of my decade long military service. The VA had just diagnosed me with bilateral tendinitis in my knees, spinal arthritis, a bulged disk, and degenerative disc disease. It has been difficult to do simple things in life, but I don’t want that to define me or stop me. With September coming up in a few months, I wanted to find something local in my area for 9/11. Whether it be an event, food drive, etc. I just wanted to continue to serve my community, even if I was no longer in the military. That is when I came across the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run 5K. I know what you’re thinking, “You just said you are all messed up, how did you run a 5K?”, I did not haha. Luckily, TMF had an option to do a weighted or unweighted ruck option instead! I immediately thought, “this is for me”. No matter how badly it hurt to do, I was going to cross that finish line. I got one of my friends involved as well, he likes a challenge and it is good to have a support system with you (especially after leaving the military). We went out there to Hudson, MA and got going. It was challenging to say the least. TMF and GORUCK only require 20lbs for the weighted ruck option, however, I overachieved a little and had 37lbs. Crazy thing too is that we both ended up placing and getting medals. I had 1st in my age group and he had 3rd in his age group. We were flabbergasted. Not only did we have no idea that there were even medals at the end, but the fact that we had placed blew our minds! It also just so happened to spark a fire in us to do it again in 2026. This year, we have also gotten more people involved to support TMF and ruck/run for a good cause. We are hoping to have five or so people this year and increase the numbers more and more as time goes on. I have been looking into joining the local TMF chapter as well so I can help out and do so much more. TMF has brought many different events into my life, the 9/11 Heroes 5K just holds a special place, being the first event I have participated in. This year, I have (so far), completed the GWOT 100 and the TMF Workout of the Day (WOD). If you are a veteran, currently serving, or are a supporter/want to do more for veterans and their families, I definitely would recommend the Travis Manion Foundation.

Ben: Finding Home Under the Stars and Stripes

I have lived under very different flags in my lifetime. I was born in the former Soviet Union, where freedom was restricted and tightly controlled. Even as a young child, I experienced what life looked like when liberty was something people dreamed about rather than lived every day. When I was six years old, my family immigrated to Israel, where I grew up and discovered the meaning of service to something greater than myself.

For the next 24 years, Israel became my home. I proudly served for a decade in the Israel Defense Forces, where I learned that duty, sacrifice, and commitment are more than words—they are values that define a life of purpose. Those years taught me that the security and freedom of a nation are never guaranteed. They are earned and protected by ordinary men and women willing to put others before themselves.

In 2015, I fulfilled a dream I had carried since I was a teenager and immigrated to the United States. America had always represented hope to me—a nation founded on liberty, opportunity, and the belief that people can build a better future through hard work and service. Today, I have the incredible privilege of serving this country twice: as a member of the United States Air Force and as a police officer in New Jersey.

The United States is far more than the place where I live. It is my home. Having lived under very different systems of government, I understand how rare and precious America’s freedoms truly are. Freedom is not simply a word in the Constitution or a principle we celebrate on holidays. It is the ability to speak openly, pursue opportunity, worship freely, and determine your own future. It is something millions of Americans have inherited because generations before them were willing to defend it with extraordinary courage—and, in far too many cases, with their lives.

That is why I believe so deeply in the mission of Travis Manion Foundation. The men and women who serve our nation, and the families who stand beside them, deserve more than our gratitude. They deserve our continued investment, our support, and our promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten. Organizations like Travis Manion Foundation ensure that the legacy of those who served lives on by inspiring future generations to lead with character, courage, and selfless service.

My journey has taken me across continents and through different chapters of history, but it has led me to one profound truth: freedom is never free. It survives only when people are willing to protect it and when a grateful nation chooses to honor those who answered that call. Supporting our veterans and service members is not simply an act of appreciation—it is an investment in the very values that make America the greatest nation in the world.

Serving this country is the greatest honor of my life, and supporting those who have worn, and continue to wear, the uniform is one of the most meaningful ways I can give back to the nation that gave me a home.

With much gratitude and respect,
Ben Adam
Airman. Officer. Patriot. Husband. Father.

Ethan: Dependable, Skilled, Selfless

My family has a long history of service to our nation – seven generations, from the Revolutionary War to serving on active duty right now. My whole life has been spent around Veterans and service members. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from our “Greatest Generation” and the greatest of every generation since. My father had five combat deployments as well as Humanitarian and Peacekeeping deployments. He was wounded and received three Purple Hearts – he spent twelve years on active duty and the last twenty making sure other Veterans and service members are taken care of. My sister is currently on active duty and has had two deployments. What I’ve learned from our Veterans and my family is that we all play a part in history and the future. Large or small our contributions matter. My grandfather and dad have instilled in me that there are three traits that a good person has and shares – they are dependable, skilled and selfless. I can’t wait to do my part and have an impact.

Thomas: Retired Marine, NASA and Volunteer Firefighter

I was initially drawn to the Travis Manion Foundation and the “If Not Me, Then Who…” mentality as a retired Marine and then later adopting it in my approach as a volunteer firefighter. I retired with 21 years of active duty service in the Marine Corps and am currently employed at NASA as an analyst; however, in my free time I serve as the Assistant Fire Chief for the city of Friendswood, TX. Our volunteer firefighters are always looking for challenges throughout the year and the Travis Manion WOD is one of the events we tackle annually. It’s our way to honor and respect Travis Manion’s service while also motivating us to push harder. Service to others has always guided me in my decision making and the Travis Manion Foundation embodies this belief — Thank you for all that you do for our veterans.

Matt and Kristen: Supporting Future Generations

Shortly after moving to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about a decade ago, my wife Kristen and I came across a Facebook post about Travis Manion. The post mentioned that Travis had been a wrestler at the U.S. Naval Academy. I had wrestled at Virginia Tech, and Travis and I were about the same age.

I realized that I had likely been in the same room with him. Every year, my team competed in a tournament at Annapolis, which meant Travis and I had wrestled on the same mats. Our lives went in very different directions after that shared experience, but years later, I found myself living near the community where he had grown up.

That coincidence led us to Travis Manion Foundation, where we learned more about Travis, his legacy, and the organization created in his name. His “If Not Me, Then Who…” ethos immediately resonated with both of us.

We were especially inspired by the way TMF acts as a force multiplier. The organization not only supports veterans and families of the fallen, but also empowers veterans to become instruments of good within their communities, particularly for young people. That kind of service can create a powerful, compounding effect over time.

In 2018, while I was attending business school at the University of Pennsylvania, we decided to turn a traditional end-of-semester get-together into a pool party fundraiser for TMF. Many of my classmates were active-duty military personnel or veterans, and several shared stories about how TMF had supported their friends and their friends’ families.

One classmate shared a testimonial from the wife of a fallen teammate, who said that TMF had changed the course of her life. After losing her husband, becoming involved with the Foundation gave her a renewed sense of purpose. Hearing stories like hers made the mission feel even more personal and reinforced our desire to help.

The following year, the event became known as the Mattalina Wine Mixer, inspired by my love of the movie “Step Brothers.” It was another tremendous success, bringing together former classmates and many of our local friends. That year, we raised $12,000 for TMF.

After taking a few years off because of the pandemic, we held our third Mattalina Wine Mixer in August 2023. It was our most successful event yet. Several of my former classmates returned, even more of our local friends joined us, and together we raised more than $22,000 for TMF.

Through our support of Travis Manion Foundation, we have found not only fulfillment, but also a profound sense of purpose. For us, it is not simply about raising funds. It is about raising hope, lifting the spirits of others, and helping carry forward a legacy of service and character.

John and Helen: From the Battlefield to the Spartan Family

My wife Helen and I have a unique connection to Travis Manion Foundation. I graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy a few years before Travis and later had the privilege of serving alongside him during my third and final deployment with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. During that time, Travis and I became friends.

Because of my connection to Travis and our close friendships with two members of TMF’s Board of Directors, Helen and I have long considered ourselves part of the Spartan family. Supporting TMF’s mission has remained deeply important to us.

Like many veterans who have transitioned from active duty, I still carry a strong sense of service—to my country, my community, and the legacies of those I served alongside. TMF’s ethos, “If Not Me, Then Who…,” captures the heart of that commitment. It is a reminder that creating positive change and supporting others is a never-ending pursuit.

Although Helen and I live in San Jose, California, and balance busy careers in commercial real estate and supply chain management while raising three active children, we continue to make time to support TMF. One tradition that is especially meaningful to us is attending the annual “If Not Me, Then Who…” Gala each December in Philadelphia.

To me, TMF’s mission is a call to action—not only to support veterans and families of the fallen, but also to encourage anyone who wants to make a positive impact in their community.

Service can take many forms. We see it exemplified by Travis and by all those currently serving in uniform, but it can also be reflected through programs like Character Does Matter, powered by UA Freedom. The program helps instill lasting values and can be a transformative experience, especially for those who choose to be the person who starts a positive ripple effect.