Matt’s Kindness Ripples On is happy to announce the Kindness Award Winner for June, 2026.
Congratulations to Matthew Doward!
He will receive an award to help fund his acts of kindness project!
A huge shout-out to Jesse’s Paddle (aka, The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program) for their very generous donation to sponsor this month’s award winner.
Saddle Up and Change a Life
Matthew Doward (Rush, NY) founded A Horse’s Friend (AHF) in 2004, with the mission to expose youth from the inner city and underserved populations to the world of horses. A Horse’s Friend has provided children with alternatives to street activities that may lead to truancy, violence and drug use. In addition, AHF adds a new dimension of experiences and life choices not commonly provided at inner-city facilities. The entire program provides an environment in which all riders can achieve success, support each other and develop special bonds with other children and animals, all while helping to develop their full potential and becoming more productive citizens in their community.
Matthew is giving these kids something they might not otherwise get: space to breathe, to belong, to feel capable; and maybe even to fall in love with something they didn’t know existed.
Over 5,000 kids have come through his program. That number alone is incredible; but numbers don’t really tell the story.
The story is of the kid who shows up unsure, maybe guarded, maybe carrying more than any child should have to carry, and then something shifts. Maybe it’s the first time they gently brush a horse, and the horse leans in. Maybe it’s learning how to lead something so big and powerful, and realizing, “Wait… I can do this.” Or maybe it’s just being in a place that feels calm, safe, and different from everything else in their world.
Suddenly, they’re not just a kid from a tough situation. They’re capable, responsible, needed.
Matt doesn’t just run a program; he creates an environment where kids support each other, build confidence and learn respect (for the horses, for each other and for themselves). They show up on Saturdays, they work, they ride, they learn. They become part of something.
Matthew with summer camp kids.
Here’s the part I love most: to Matt, this might feel like just what he does. A Saturday program, a routine, a rhythm. But to a child? It could be the moment everything starts to shift.
It could be the first time someone expects something of them and believes they can do it. The first time they feel calm instead of on edge. The first time they imagine a different future.
That’s the thing about kindness, about showing up, about creating opportunities – it rarely feels big in the moment.
It looks like: “Come help with the horses.” Or “Here, let me show you how to do this.” or “See you next Saturday.”
Simple, ordinary, repeatable and yet, life-changing.
Matt has spent over 20 years doing this work, pouring his energy, his joy and (clearly) his whole heart into these kids. The volunteers feel it, and the kids definitely feel it.
Programs like A Horse’s Friend don’t just keep kids busy; they open doors. They offer alternatives. They build confidence, responsibility and connection. They give kids a glimpse of who they can become. All from something that, on the surface, might look pretty simple.
It’s steady, meaningful work that’s been unfolding for years; and it’s making a difference in ways that really matter.
More about Jesse’s Paddle/The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program. Their objective is to end the threat of suicide in Worcester County (MD) and beyond through a program of outreach and education. This is a mission that MKRO supports wholeheartedly, and we are so grateful for all the work they do to support mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. (If you need help, please call 988.)
