Mike Hatfield Honored with PHWFF Patriot Award

For over four years, Mike Hatfield has worked tirelessly on behalf of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. Beginning as a volunteer pro guide, Mike devoted hours toward programs at Hunter McGuire VAMC, Fort Lee, and regularly participated in the Mossy Creek Invitational and 2-Fly Tournament fundraisers.

In mid-December, Project Healing Waters’ President, Ed Nicholson, had the pleasure of presenting the organization’s highest award, the Patriot Award, to Mike, an employee of S & K Sales Company. S & K Sales Company is a leading military re-sales broker where Mike developed a commissary Cause Marketing program to solely benefit PHWFF.

Coordinating efforts through the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), Mike and his team are responsible for generating $155,000 on behalf of PHWFF over the past two years. This represents one of the most significant contributions to PHWFF to date, and such significant financial support has enabled PHWFF to expand operations from 30 programs to nearly 80 nationwide!

Mike’s remarkable campaign to support veterans and wounded warriors, through PHWFF, points directly to the qualities of a true patriot. Heartfelt thanks were extended to Mike by Ed Nicholson, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of PHWFF, and as the Patriot Award and Abel Reel were presented, Mike appeared all but speechless. He deflected praise of the accomplishments calling them a “group effort.” As Ed so aptly stated, “Surely it was, and will continue to be, but Mike is the man that has made it all happen.”

The presentation ceremony would not have been complete without reflecting upon the importance of the group effort. Ed honored S & K Sales by presenting a group award to their President, Richard Ray, and the S & K team. Their unwavering support of Mike, and their enthusiasm for the program, proved invaluable to the success of the overall effort.

While finding adequate words to thank Mike, S & K and DeCA is difficult, Project Healing Waters remains forever grateful to them. The lives of many disabled men and women of the Armed Forces, and its veterans, will be touched and perhaps changed forever -- because Mike Hatfield dared to embrace a challenge. The challenge was realized through efforts of a true patriot!