Service To Humanity Award

2025 Recipients

Matthew '00 and Anne Flegal Hinton '00

On March 16, 2008, Bucknell sweethearts Matt '00 and Annie Flegal Hinton '00 experienced what no parent should ever have to face: the death of their 2-year-old child, Brady. The two years before Brady's death were tough on the couple as they raised a special needs child who required countless surgeries and long stays in intensive care units in hospitals across the country. But all of those experiences could not prepare the Hintons for this new reality and left them in incredible pain and unsure of what to do next.

While grieving, the Hintons realized they had two choices in terms of how to move forward: feel bad for themselves for years to come or figure out a way to keep Brady's memory alive. One month following Brady's death, Brady's Smile, a 501(c)(3) nationally recognized nonprofit, was born. Wanting to honor their son and his unforgettable smile — a light even in the darkest times — the pair named the charity in his memory.

With no experience running a nonprofit, the Hintons set off to help the very people they frequently encountered during Brady's life, developing support programs for critically ill and disabled children and their families at two local hospitals. These programs, focused on care for both child and parent, reflected the Hintons' own experience in and out of hospitals.

They quickly developed a Core 4 set of Brady's Smile Programs: Comfort Bags, Brady Blankets, Meals by Matt & Annie and Music in the ICU. As their efforts quickly gained popularity and other hospitals expressed interest in partnering with them to receive the Core 4 programs, the Hintons realized Brady's Smile would always be a fundamental part of their life.

Seventeen years after its founding, Brady's Smile remains core to who the Hintons are and what their life is about: living in service to others. Annie leads the volunteer organization, supported by Matt and their two daughters, Keira and Stella. Together, they ensure that 100% of donations go directly to the children and parents they serve. Their home is a maze of Amazon boxes, piles of fabric and supplies for care packages, and friends, neighbors and their children's sports teams have all contributed to their cause in various ways.

Currently, Brady's Smile partners with 35 hospitals across 18 states — from their home state of Connecticut all the way to Hawaii. On average, Brady's Smile impacts approximately 1,000 lives each month, and the Hintons estimate that the charity has impacted over 170,000 lives since it began in 2008. While the Core 4 programs remain central to the charity's mission, it now takes a more targeted approach, tailoring support to each hospital's unique needs and expanding services to critically ill and disabled children at home — broadening its reach and deepening its impact.

Under the Hintons' leadership, a broad, cross-country volunteer network — including Girl Scout troops, sports teams, retail stores and large corporate entities — deliver these programs to the charity's various hospital partners. Brady's Smile continues to receive interest from hospitals and volunteers from across the U.S., ensuring the Hintons will be able to "keep the smile alive" for years to come.