In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, the guidance and support of a mentor can be a pivotal factor in a young person’s life. For students, particularly those from underserved communities, mentorship can bridge gaps, open doors, and illuminate pathways to success. When this mentorship comes from Veterans through nonprofit organizations, it creates a unique and powerful dynamic that benefits both the mentor and the mentee in profound ways.
Team AMSG met up with members of the Travis Manion Foundation team, including Kat Martinez, at a lacrosse tournament at West Potomac High School, where the Travis Manion Foundation has a youth club.
Kat is a Navy Veteran Kat who knows the value of a strong relationship with a mentor. During her time in the Navy, Kat was incredibly inspired by a senior officer and turned to volunteering in the community. Kat began volunteering with the Travis Manion Foundation in 2020 and came on board as a staff member in 2023.
Kat is a Manager, Mid-Atlantic Regional Lead, at Travis Manion Foundation. The Travis Manion Foundation strives to empower Veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations and to create a nation of purpose-driven individuals and thriving communities that is built on character.
“Your character does matter,” says Kat. “I tell kids about the importance of leaving your own legacy.”
As a Veteran, the Travis Manion Foundation allowed Kat to continue to give back to the community and continue serving beyond the uniform. “It gives me a purpose. It gives Veterans a purpose after service. Veterans are trying to redefine themselves,” she said.
Kat was drawn to the Travis Manion Foundation in January 2020 at a Student Veterans of America table. The ethos of the foundation spoke to her, “If not me, then who …”
“I had a life of service in mind. I wanted to continue serving and didn’t know how,” she said.
In 2021, Kat took on an Operation Legacy Project to benefit Samaritan House in memory of Selena Roth, a 25-year-old Veteran and military spouse who had been murdered. Kat organized a drive to collect household items, food, linens, clothing, and more. Many of the volunteers helping with the project were teenage girls. The drive was held in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as Roth was an advocate for those affected by sexual assault.
“Anyone can create an Operation Legacy Project. Travis Manion Foundation allowed me to create this project, to share about Roth’s legacy and help those who needed it,” says Kat.
Now, working with the signature program of the Travis Manion Foundation, Character Does Matter, a youth mentorship program led by Veterans and families of the fallen, Kat is able to help shape future generations. All of the mentors involved with Character Does Matter are trained, and the program uses presentations, activity-based courses, group discussions, and small group mentoring to inspire youth to lead with character in and outside of the classroom.
All the services through Character Does Matter are offered free of charge. Mentors can visit schools through assemblies during the school day, after school, and even weekends. Sessions can be brief or more involved, and can even be held virtually. One of the more innovative aspects of the program is that older students that have gone through the mentorship can then learn to teach the curriculum to younger students.
“It can be really impactful for the younger students to hear how the curriculum can be applied in real life from people that have actually benefited from the material,” says Kat.
AMSG’s own CEO Jim O’ Farrell, is not only a Character Does Matter Mentor, but he has also been involved in TMF programming for 10 years, and even helped start the TMF Youth Club at West Potomac High School.
Character Does Matter uses the 24 positive psychological strengths and teaches student mentees how to use their strengths and even exercise their strengths, all while recognizing that an individual’s signature strengths can change over time.
“We all have our own strengths and if we can encourage each other, we’re able to do more collectively. The key is to find our commonalities, and celebrate our differences,” says Kat.
The Character Does Matter program benefits participants on both sides, allowing Veterans and families of the fallen to continue their service by being a positive influence and role model in the lives of youth. Youth mentees are able to learn self-reflection, confidence, goal setting, leadership, service and more.
What may only be a few hours of time for a mentor makes a huge impact on students learning to use their strengths and exemplify strong character, setting them up for a bright future.
Written by: Sheila Rupp
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