Character Does Matter

The Travis Manion Foundation's Character Does Matter program honors the fallen and challenges the living by delivering dynamic, inspiring presentations to emerging leaders. One of the foundation’s three major programs, Character Does Matter is inspired by Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion and thousands of fallen American heroes, honored through the program's innovative “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge.

travismanionfoundation.org


Ask me anything   Submit


Students from Severna Park High School’s Leadership Institute accepted the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge in honor of their Fallen Hero and Severna Park alum., Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg, USMC.

The Travis Manion Foundation and the Marine’s father, Eric Herzberg, visited the school and presented Character Does Matter for a second year on Feb. 27, 2013, along with Major Josh Jabin.

Through a Travis Manion Foundation Challenge Grant, Eric offered students an opportunity to earn scholarships in his son’s name. They were also able to sign up to participate in up to two local Habitat for Humanity builds, scheduled to take place in Maryland on Saturday, April 27, 2013 and Saturday, May 4, 2013, or to write biographies for the Fallen Heroes Project, an organization near and dear to Eric’s heart.

“He wasn’t running from anything; he was running to what he felt his purpose was,” Eric told students.



DeMatha Catholic High School’s hockey team honored seven Fallen Heroes at their American Heroes Hockey Challenge on Feb. 1, 2013. They invited Eric Herzberg, Travis Manion Foundation Challenge Grant recipient, who worked with the athletes last summer to honor his son, Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg at a Habitat for Humanity Build in Baltimore, Md. Fallen Heroes: Lance Cpl. Eugene Mills III, USMC Maj. Samuel Griffith, USMC Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg, USMC LT (SEAL) Brendan Looney, Navy 1st Lt. Travis Manion, USMC Cpl. Christopher Monahan, Jr., USMC 1st Lt. Robert Seidel III, Army

DeMatha Catholic High School’s hockey team honored seven Fallen Heroes at their American Heroes Hockey Challenge on Feb. 1, 2013. They invited Eric Herzberg, Travis Manion Foundation Challenge Grant recipient, who worked with the athletes last summer to honor his son, Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg at a Habitat for Humanity Build in Baltimore, Md. 

Fallen Heroes:

  • Lance Cpl. Eugene Mills III, USMC
  • Maj. Samuel Griffith, USMC
  • Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg, USMC
  • LT (SEAL) Brendan Looney, Navy
  • 1st Lt. Travis Manion, USMC
  • Cpl. Christopher Monahan, Jr., USMC
  • 1st Lt. Robert Seidel III, Army


Inspired by her cousin’s service and sacrifice, Julia Davis presented the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge to 43 classmates at Westover School in Middlebury, Conn. on Jan. 18, 2013. Westover students are honoring the 30 United States service members who died in the Aug. 6, 2011 Chinook helicopter crash, including Davis’ cousin, SOC (SEAL) Brian Bill, Navy. They will also honor Bill’s two best friends, SOC (SEAL) Adam Brown, KIA March 18, 2010 and SO2 (SEAL) Marc Lee, KIA Aug. 2, 2006.

Inspired by her cousin’s service and sacrifice, Julia Davis presented the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge to 43 classmates at Westover School in Middlebury, Conn. on Jan. 18, 2013. Westover students are honoring the 30 United States service members who died in the Aug. 6, 2011 Chinook helicopter crash, including Davis’ cousin, SOC (SEAL) Brian Bill, Navy. They will also honor Bill’s two best friends, SOC (SEAL) Adam Brown, KIA March 18, 2010 and SO2 (SEAL) Marc Lee, KIA Aug. 2, 2006.



We continue to be so proud of the JROTC cadets at Germantown High School. They worked with their Volunteer Liaison, Sharon Ferry to organize a holiday drive for Project H.O.M.E. On Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, we delivered the SUV full of clothing and toiletries they collected to help those in need. We’ll definitely be back to volunteer. If you’re interested, visit the Character Does Matter web page and let us know when you accept the challenge.

We continue to be so proud of the JROTC cadets at Germantown High School. They worked with their Volunteer Liaison, Sharon Ferry to organize a holiday drive for Project H.O.M.E. On Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, we delivered the SUV full of clothing and toiletries they collected to help those in need. We’ll definitely be back to volunteer. If you’re interested, visit the Character Does Matter web page and let us know when you accept the challenge.



Pictured, General James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps commends our top three scholarship recipients at the Travis Manion Foundation’s first ever “If Not Me, Then Who…” Gala on Dec. 6, 2012. Your commitment to service and leadership made an enormous impact on communities, families of the fallen, and our nation. Congratulations!!! Aminah Tolbert- Germantown High School James Mills- Villanova University Matthew Richard Cleveland- Villanova University

Pictured, General James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps commends our top three scholarship recipients at the Travis Manion Foundation’s first ever “If Not Me, Then Who…” Gala on Dec. 6, 2012. Your commitment to service and leadership made an enormous impact on communities, families of the fallen, and our nation. Congratulations!!!

  • Aminah Tolbert- Germantown High School
  • James Mills- Villanova University
  • Matthew Richard Cleveland- Villanova University


DeMatha Hockey Honors Fallen By Lori Mezzanotte   On Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, Corey Hirsch and Pat Tanski, seniors at DeMatha Catholic High School and members of the Prep Hockey Team, visited the gravesite of Travis Manion and Brendan Looney, to pay their respects.  Each left flowers, a photo, and a DeMatha Hockey wristband.  On Feb. 1, 2013, Corey will honor Brendan and Pat will honor Travis at the Second Annual American Heroes Hockey Challenge.  Each will wear a jersey with the Manion/Looney name on their back.  Pat will also honor his cousin, Major Samuel Griffith, USMC, killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 14, 2011.   Corey formulated the idea of the American Heroes Hockey Challenge last year when trying to come up with a way to recognize his dad, Jeff, a Captain in the Navy.  After some coordination and planning with his high school hockey coach, Tony MacAulay, and Ryan Adler of Hockey Helpers, the Inaugural American Heroes Hockey Challenge was born. The event honored 13 fallen soldiers, including Travis and Brendan.   Corey and Pat first became involved with the Travis Manion Foundation when they and their teammates volunteered to build a Habitat for Humanity house in memory of Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg, USMC in the summer of 2012.  Corey went on to volunteer at the 9/11 Heroes Run.  Most recently, through coordination with the Travis Manion Foundation, they have adopted a veteran family for the holidays. They are gathering gifts from family members, wrapping them, and delivering them in time for Christmas to a veteran family in need of some assistance this holiday season.

DeMatha Hockey Honors Fallen

By Lori Mezzanotte

 

On Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, Corey Hirsch and Pat Tanski, seniors at DeMatha Catholic High School and members of the Prep Hockey Team, visited the gravesite of Travis Manion and Brendan Looney, to pay their respects.  Each left flowers, a photo, and a DeMatha Hockey wristband.  On Feb. 1, 2013, Corey will honor Brendan and Pat will honor Travis at the Second Annual American Heroes Hockey Challenge.  Each will wear a jersey with the Manion/Looney name on their back.  Pat will also honor his cousin, Major Samuel Griffith, USMC, killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 14, 2011.

 

Corey formulated the idea of the American Heroes Hockey Challenge last year when trying to come up with a way to recognize his dad, Jeff, a Captain in the Navy.  After some coordination and planning with his high school hockey coach, Tony MacAulay, and Ryan Adler of Hockey Helpers, the Inaugural American Heroes Hockey Challenge was born. The event honored 13 fallen soldiers, including Travis and Brendan.

 

Corey and Pat first became involved with the Travis Manion Foundation when they and their teammates volunteered to build a Habitat for Humanity house in memory of Lance Cpl. Eric Herzberg, USMC in the summer of 2012.  Corey went on to volunteer at the 9/11 Heroes Run.  Most recently, through coordination with the Travis Manion Foundation, they have adopted a veteran family for the holidays. They are gathering gifts from family members, wrapping them, and delivering them in time for Christmas to a veteran family in need of some assistance this holiday season.



Travis’ Naval Academy classmate, Terrence Fenningham, presented Character Does Matter to a great group of cadets from the Army JROTC at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pa. on Nov. 20, 2012. We can’t wait to see how they continue the legacy of their Fallen Hero, West Philadelphian, Pfc. David Jefferson, Army, in their own community.

Travis’ Naval Academy classmate, Terrence Fenningham, presented Character Does Matter to a great group of cadets from the Army JROTC at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pa. on Nov. 20, 2012. We can’t wait to see how they continue the legacy of their Fallen Hero, West Philadelphian, Pfc. David Jefferson, Army, in their own community.



Fourth Annual Operation Care Package

All students participating in the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge are welcome to join us this Sunday, Nov. 18, packing care packages for deployed troops and Hurricane Sandy victims. Donations are appreciated. 



New Website

Click here to check out our new website, where you can accept the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge or log hours every time you honor a Fallen Hero through service.



Thank you so much to those who came out to volunteer and honor the fallen at Main Line Animal Rescue on Nov. 10, 2012. Take a peek at what this small, but amazing volunteer crew accomplished by clicking here.

Thank you so much to those who came out to volunteer and honor the fallen at Main Line Animal Rescue on Nov. 10, 2012. Take a peek at what this small, but amazing volunteer crew accomplished by clicking here.