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Philanthropic Hero
Biographies
Matthew Nonnemacher
Hazleton,
Pennsylvania
Matthew Nonnemacher is an 11 year old boy who in 1997,
decided to work with his local United Way to launch “A Million Ways to
Care,” a one million penny-drive in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Generated by a
homework question of, “If you had any wish, what would you wish
for?,” Matthew set his mind to collect one million pennies for the local
poor. In conjunction with Make A Difference Day, local schools were contacted
and canisters for pennies were placed in businesses and organizations
throughout the Hazelton community, eventually collecting 1.8 million pennies
($18,000).
Matthew has expressed that he would someday like to be a
priest. But rather than wait to help people, he wanted “to help them
now.” Matthew is ensuring that the money he has raised is used so that the
poor can have “food, clothing and a home.” |
