Hello! And thank you for visiting my website!
My name is Sawyer Hendrickson, I am now 13 years old and am from Ludington, Michigan and the Founder of "Miss Sawyer's Kids With a Cause", a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that is dedicated to "Making A Difference In The Lives Of Our Veterans and Active Duty Military, "One Smile At A Time"
My interest in supporting those who Serve Our Country started when I was just 7 years old and my brother joined The Marine Corps. As I started to learn about the Military, I started to realize that our Veterans and Active Military are probably the most forgotten people in this country. I became a child advocate with a deep passion to try and change that.
My mission is very simple: Remember, Understand, and Never Forget that Our Freedom Isn't Free!
I hope that as you learn more about me, that you will consider donating to my non-profit to help me support the year round projects that I am so passionate about and that are truly Making A Difference In The Live Of Our Veterans And Active Military.
I am the youngest person in the history of our country to earn an individual Gold President's Volunteer Service Award at the age of 7, At age 11
I earned my Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for 4000+ hours volunteered. To date, i have earned a total of 16 Gold President's Volunteer Awards from now 3 sitting Presidents.
I am an Honorary member of every branch of our Armed Forces and I have also been pinned everything from a Private to Honorary Colonel in our US Air Force to Command Sergeant Major in The Old Guard to Sergeant Major in the Marines Corps.
In 2017 I started my Christmas Stocking project and shipped over 5000 of Sawyers Stockings for our troops and volunteered 1322 hours to my non-profit, Miss Sawyer's Kids With A Cause. I attend over 100 Veterans based events annually all over the United States.
I also visit VA Hospitals, Military Bases, Armed Forces Retirement Homes, and Cemeteries Honoring those we have lost.
I have had the prestigious Honor of laying 12 wreaths at The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, being the escort for the Vietnam Traveling Wall as well as the greeter of our Veterans returning from Honor Flights to Washington DC.
I give speeches and presentations at events nationwide raising awareness of the issues our Veterans face today such as delays and effective healthcare and mental treatment, Homeless Veterans and Veterans Suicide Awareness. If I can help one Veteran have a better day through a handshake and Thank You, or a smile or hug, then I have Made A Difference.
I have spoken in front of Congress as well as The Department Of Veterans Affairs and Department Of Defense.
February 2019 I was Honored to be the guest speaker at the National Convention of The Marine Corps League.
It is so important to me to make sure our Veterans know that there is someone out there that truly cares about them and that I am so grateful for the sacrifice they have made for my Freedom.
In 2019, I shipped/delivered over 10,000 of "Sawyer's Stockings" filled with Holiday Cheer to those who would not be home with their families for Christmas around the world. I personally delivered 1000 of my Sawyers Stockings the week of Christmas to Washington DC and handed them out to Our Wounded Warriors, Department Of Veteran's Affairs, Veterans Serving In Congress and Senate, Our Nation's Honor Guard, Caisson Platoons, Veteran Staff at Arlington National Cemetery, and The Guards At The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, I was also given the honor to lay my 9th wreath to Honor Our Fallen Heroes for Christmas.
In 2020 during the COVID shutdowns my nonprofit was busier than ever sending care packages to those serving because they were not able to travel, at Christmas we sent over 10,000 filled Sawyer's Stockings again to those not going home for Christmas.
In 2021, we again sent over 10,000 stockings filled with holiday cheer to those serving our country and stationed in 70 different countries and the US.
My "Sawyer's Stockings" project is my biggest and most expensive project I do each year. It is so rewarding to get pictures and emails and messages from our Heroes all around the world, thanking me for thinking of them when they cannot be with their families. I have a wonderful supportive family, community and amazing grass roots following who have generously helped me with this incredible project as well as my many others throughout the year.
In the past 6 Years I have I held bake sales regularly to raise money to annually ship over 25,000 goodie filled care packages to our Troops here in the US and bases located around the World to all branches of service. I ship "Hearts For My Heroes" for Valentines Day, "Star Spangled Smiles" for Independence Day and my now "World Famous" Miss Sawyer's Peanut Butter Brownies year round.
100% of my bake sales proceeds fund my care packages filled with goodies to our Troops.
In addition, I also have my "Roses To Remember" project where I visit cemeteries and place yellow roses on the headstones of our Fallen Heroes. The yellow rose stands for "Freedom, Remember and I Care" On my birthday each year for the past 5 years I lay 2100 yellow roses at Arlington National Cemetery.
For Memorial Day each year I hand out packets of "Forget Me Not" seeds to those attending events to plant and remember a loved one currently serving our country, or in honor of a loved one lost that re-seed and come up year after year as a reminder.
Since March 2018, I also have hand painted and personally handed out over 100,000 of my "Hero Rocks" to Our Veterans, those actively serving in our Military and to our Law Enforcement and First Responders to let them know they are indeed Heroes to me and to Thank Them For Their Service And My Safety. My Hero Rocks have traveled the world with many deployed soldiers, are carried daily nationwide by thousands of War Veterans and even have been buried with My Heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for my Freedom. My handmade token of appreciation has made an impact in the lives of thousands of Veterans.
I had a very busy and blessed 2021
I truly appreciated all of you that have taken the time to learn about my 501(c)3 Non-Profit and making a generous tax deductible donation towards my projects! With your help we've exceeded our goal with over 10,000 stockings!
Bring on the new 2022 challenges!! 🇺🇸🎅💗
