Hunter Beaton

Hunter Beaton - Texas
Interview by Claire Plath
Photography by Paula Beaton
Issue 30 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

​The Nomination: Hunter Beaton has fundraised and shipped over 30,000 highest quality duffel bags and backpacks to foster youth/aged out foster youth across 15 states in 3 years - all for free! He does not stop there...each major holiday he also throws a Thanksgiving meal, part of NASDAQ closing bell with OneSimpleWish, 2000 backpack drive for college age foster youth, Christmas gift cards, Valentines Cards for foster youth shelters and other items for supplying bags. He is on the Dean's List at UT Austin and continues to amaze so many with his constant attention to foster care needs. He has numerous awards but to top it off, he is a very humble, fun, caring young man.

Tell me about your passion for donating to foster youth and how it has impacted your life.
If you have ever seen a child with all their worldly treasures in a trash bag being moved to a new home from a neglectful or abusive home, you have your eyes wide opened. I saw this not once but 3 times as a young child with my now adopted siblings. My youngest sister, Holly, had nothing at all and just in a diaper and a faded baby blanket. While my parents were focused on the health of the children, one by one as they come into our home, for some reason I focused on what they were bringing into the home and how they looked. Our story is not the only one like this out there. It is everywhere and some so much worse than I can even imagine.
When I decided to do my Eagle Scout project, it was a simple idea that I knew could make a positive impact to foster youth so they would not have to carry a trash bag. I fulfilled and achieved the Eagle Scout rank and gladly wanted to just go on being a high school freshman, play tennis, hang out with friends and get into a good college. I thought, 100 bags should be enough, right? No. I decided to sustain the project because something in my heart kept telling me that after a month, the original 100 bags were down to 88. I knew if I did not do something to sustain it, trash bags would be used again. That is where I decided to start small and keep going. It has not been an easy path at all. However, to know that the simple gift of a bag or backpack to youth makes a difference to their sense of dignity, it is so worth the energy and hurdles.

What inspired you to make a difference, and what have you donated since then that has helped spark your passion?
As mentioned before, you need to see the situation these children, to no fault of their own, have been dealt. It is so tragic. The statistics are staggering on how many children enter foster care and the older you are, the chance of you being adopted to a forever family is so much smaller. They feel unwanted. My inspiration is not one experience, it stems from many... over 30,000 bags across the United States. That inspires me.
To continue to spark my passion, I entered college last fall. I realized the expenses of filling up my dorm room with the basics since I wanted to pay for it and not burden my parents. My expense was around $800. I immediately thought if a foster youth is lucky enough to get into college, how in the world could they furnish their basics in a dorm. I decided one thing I could do is give them a backpack and get that off their list of things to buy.
I did some major fundraising and shipped over 2,000 backpacks across all community colleges and public universities to former foster youth actively enrolled in their school. I have pictures that show the joy these youth have when they received something so simple - a backpack! I also made sure that 80 students would have a Thanksgiving meal since they may not have any family to spend this time with over the holiday.
Next, I funded 50 - $25 gift cards for Christmas presents for former foster youth and currently for Valentine’s Day, I got my 8 year old sister to rally not only her classmates but the entire school district (9,500 students) to flood foster youth and former foster youth with Valentine’s Day cards - on a day of LOVE for them to feel LOVED! As I continue to give back to foster youth thousands of duffels and backpacks, I love finding creative ways to make them feel special and loved.

​Can you tell me about the success behind your organization, and what you have been able to accomplish that has already made a lasting impact on the lives of so many?
The success behind my organization is people believe in the mission. One Simple Wish also believes in my mission. They are the parent non-profit that continues to push and share the news on how to grant wishes to foster youth and provide the necessity of a bag or backpack. Last year, I was featured on Good Morning America and ABC News for May-Foster Care Awareness Month and saw one of the comments of an older female that still carried around her old orange torn duffel. I reached out to her and asked her if I could send her a replacement. She said yes. I decided to get it monogrammed and sent it. Little did I know that this one gesture and personalization made her feel so special even as an adult. She had always felt like trash, unwanted, and to have someone go out of their way based on one comment on a post, blew her away. Now, she is one of my favorite people because I got to know her, where she lives, what she does and so on. That is an example of lasting impact in my opinion. The bag does not fix the pain by no means, but it may provide youth and former foster youth a path to healing and to know someone cares about them. They matter!

How has your perseverance, work ethic, and determination inspired the lives of many, and how have you dedicated your time to filling the needs of others?
I am so extremely busy with school, being a part of a big family, and being very active in my University Catholic Center role, but I am always seeking ways to continue to help others. May it be a student peer, a family member, a former foster youth or anyone. It feels good to make someone feel better. I work at Austin Threads which provides new clothing, shoes and toiletries to foster youth. Many of these youth have NEVER owned anything new. It is amazing to observe and help these children that are referred to go on a shopping spree and see their eyes light up with their new clothes, shoes, backpack and toiletries.

​How has your family’s support impacted your drive?
My family keeps me grounded, in line to stay on task, understand how to be more efficient and not overextend myself. When I am too busy, my mom or dad may help me get my siblings to help. Now that I live around 100 miles away from them, they may have to help me with getting the local bags delivered so I won’t have to fundraise for shipping costs. That is a huge relief and I want to always use my financial donations wisely if I can.

What encouragement would you give to other teens, and how would you help inspire them to make a difference in the world like what you are doing for those in foster care?
Find a passion, research it, and find what you can do to help and inspire others to help you that have that same interest. When you engage others and collaborate, you can truly make huge differences in people’s lives. I make sure I get to know foster youth by name. When I was in San Antonio, I would shake their hands, talk to them, find out their name. It’s important to make people feel they matter.


What is the hardest thing you’ve ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
 The hardest thing is finding a way to fundraise and give out the bags for free! I do not enjoy asking for donations. But knowing who benefits, makes it all better. I do not make any money since 100% of the donation goes to the purchase of the bag and shipments.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Stay focused on your goals, stay true to your mission, keep your priorities straight, don’t get so busy that you do not notice the needs of others and daily prayer.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans for the future?
I am not sure just yet what I will be doing. My major is Communications and Leadership. I am considering a double major in History as well. I want to study abroad as well. I do know that I want to have a career where I can continue to inspire, help and engage others in a positive way.
What is your favorite activity or pastime that wasn’t in your nomination?
Playing tennis and Ultimate Frisbee. I love the outdoors!

Do you have a hidden talent?
I am not sure about a talent, but I am 6’3 so able to get things off of high places when others may not be able to reach them! Also, I can make unique sounds of water droplets in my mouth. :)

How do you keep yourself organized with everything you have on your plate?
Daily planner, referencing it often, prioritizing what must be done and when, asking for help, when I cannot get it done.

3 Things on your bucket list
1.) Travel to all continents.
2.) Road trip across the United States.
3.) Learn to play the piano

Who do you find inspiring?
 Normal people who do extraordinary things, especially the ones who have overcome odds.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Thank you for publishing these stories. I like that so many people that are my age find passions and have shared their stories.

Hunter will be featured in Issue 30 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

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click here for more information on issue 30

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