Veterans
Tipping Our Hats
USD’s Operation Hat Trick Program Supports
Wounded Warriors, USD Student Veterans
and Now the Travis Manion Foundation
T
he University of San Diego won the national 2018
Operation Hat Trick Service Award, recognizing
USD’s support of wounded U.S. combat service
members and veterans through its sale of USD
hats co-branded with Operation Hat Trick (OHT).
In recognition for the award, OHT donated $10,000 to the Travis
Manion Foundation on behalf of USD.
The foundation honors the memory of 1st Lt. Travis Manion who
was fatally wounded by an enemy sniper while aiding and drawing
fire away from wounded members of his team. For his actions,
Manion was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor.
“The Travis Manion Foundation works to unite America’s
community to strengthen our national character,” says West
Coast Director Derek Abbey ’11 (MA), ’18 (PhD), a former director
of USD’s Veteran’s Center. “We will use this money to support
programming in San Diego and to help our veterans facilitate our
character program.”
78 GBSAN.COM | JULY 2018
USD launched its partnership with Operation Hat Trick on Memorial
Day Weekend in 2017 to build momentum for the Founders Gala,
held on Veterans Day. The gala raised a record-breaking $1.3
million to support the Founders Endowed Scholarship Fund for
USD’s student veterans. The OHT initiative also made it possible to
provide $15,000 to USD’s Veterans Center.
“The University of San Diego is honored to be part of the Operation
Hat Trick family. We understand the sacrifices the military makes
on a daily basis to keep us safe and free,” Coreen Petti, USD’s
associate vice president for Advancement Marketing and Strategic
Partnerships shared with Giving Back Magazine. “So we join OHT
in making a difference in the lives of wounded and recovering
service members and veterans.”
USD offers three OHT-branded hats, which are available at USD’s
Torero Store. Purchase yours today!
www.usdtorerostores.com