Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Heart of an Ace, Inc, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

One year ago, I asked the question: How much is a human life worth?

My name is Matthew Young and I’m fundraising to help evacuate an Afghan family of four. This is the same family that started my journey helping our Afghani allies escape,

evade and sustain themselves while they awaited evacuation. 

I’m thrilled to say that after 12 months of heartache, prayers and hard work we have a

solution to get them to temporary safety in a nearby country while their Special Immigrant Visas are processed. The last fundraiser paid for passports, and to help keep the family safe and fed over the past year. I’m asking for your help in raising the funds to #finishthemission. Funds will be accepted by the registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit Heart of anAce so all contributions are tax deductible. The goal is to raise $11,000 for the following:

$4000 for safe transport and one-year visas.

$1000 to establish a household (first and last month rent, and a security deposit, as well as vital utility and household costs in this new country).

$500 per month for rent, utilities, groceries and virtual school for the children.

The family will have to renew the visas after one year if their visa processing has not been completed.

Recap of the general situation: It has been one year since Kabul fell to the Taliban. Due to the rapid withdrawal of US forces and collapse of the Afghan Army, 10’s of thousands of Afghans are still awaiting evacuation. Currently there are at least 74,000 SIV applicants still awaiting evacuation; when combined with their dependents this totals at least 334,000 people. The US Department of State is currently evacuating approximately 200 people each week; at that pace it will take 140 years to #finishthemission. This is obviously unacceptable and not sustainable for the people who were left behind.

One of my closest Marine Corps friends (that I served with from 1999-2003), Charles

Cooper, continued to deploy as an EOD bomb disposal technician. He met “A” the father of this family.

“A” worked for coalition forces for just under 10 years interpreting and “demining” which involves removing land mines that were a risk to both civilians and our troops. He was most recently a radio contractor for l3harris attached to the Afghan Special Forces. He stayed with his job until the fall of Kabul, and I have seen digital copies of paperwork that verify his activities, as well as having spoken to his direct supervisor at L3 Harris. “A” and his wife have a pre-school aged son, and an early elementary school aged daughter (who are extremely adorable). This is a hardworking, intelligent man who will be an asset to whatever community he ultimately resides in.

I have not been idle in this cause over the past twelve months. I have been a volunteer with Task Force Argo since September 2021; Aces and Eights since October and helped to found Heart of an Ace in January 2022. These organizations have relocated thousands of our allies both in conjunction with, and also separate from, the US government efforts. Through these organizations, I have helped raise and distribute over $200,000 in humanitarian aid to feed and shelter thousands of our allies left behind. I have personally assisted in the safe relocation of more than 50 Afghans.

Funds raised will go to the family’s physical evacuation, legal fees, and assistance in setting up their household once they arrive in their new temporary home. 100% of the funds will go to help the family. Once they are out of harms way, I will provide more information about them. Any additional funds raised will go to allow other people to escape.

Thank you for your time,

Matthew Young

Heartofanace.org

Semper Fi (Always Faithful)