The With Gratitude Matt Foundation honors and financially assists young people who demonstrate a grateful heart and courageous attitude while overcoming life’s challenges with perseverance and faith. Young people in middle school through college are eligible for this award.
At our 2025 gala, A Toast to Gratitude, we honored the first recipient of the With Gratitude Matt Foundation Award: Grant Pachuta. Grant is a 15-year-old high school sophomore who was badly burned and faced a long and arduous recovery. Grant was just twelve years old when his family home caught on fire.
Grant spent 44 days in an ICU, and just days before release, had to have a tracheostomy tube put in. He had that tube for two years. When it was finally removed in the fall of 2024, his first question was, “Can I play football now??” We’re so pleased to tell you that he is a member of his JV football team today!
Grant received this award because over the past three years, he demonstrated strength, faithful courage, and resilience. He has not let his injuries define him. He and his family are so thankful to all who helped him and provide gift baskets to their local fire department every Thanksgiving.
His positive attitude and grateful heart embody everything Matt stood for, and we were so pleased to give Grant this award. Congratulations, Grant, and thank you to all of you for making this possible!
Our Board considers the following for each nominee:
Resilience in the face of adversity:
Consistent practice of gratitude:
Expression of faith:
Positive impact on others:
Nominations are reviewed in the spring, and the recipient is announced at our summer gala.