Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation
For Every Brave Young Heart — A Wilderness Awaits.
Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation
For Every Brave Young Heart — A Wilderness Awaits.
Making Wilderness Dreams Come True
Our Mission
At Hunt Of A Lifetime, we are dedicated to granting hunting and fishing dreams for children 21 and under who face life-threatening illnesses. Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences that bring joy and hope to these brave kids and their families.
About Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation
Our Mission
"Hunt Of A Lifetime" is a nonprofit organization with a mission to grant hunting & fishing dreams for children age 21 and under, who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses or life threatening disabilities. We are doing what we can to make a difference in their life, a dream come true. But we need your help, we are looking for people interested in helping the kids live their dreams, without you, we can't give them the dreams they so desire.
I just want to say thank you to all the folks that encouraged me to begin the Hunt of a Lifetime foundation. To my son Matt, and the life he lived loving the outdoors to the fullest, and passing on to others what hunting & fishing meant to him. Don Fetteroff of the Safari Club International Pittsburgh, PA Chapter for achieving what he thought was impossible, in March of 1998 he found a moose hunt for Matt for the fall of 1998. The Safari Outfitters of Cody, Wyoming for finding an outfitter. Most importantly, Clayton & Gene Grosso of Grosso Outfitters, Nordegg, Alberta Canada, Gene's wife Becky for taking the time to go along with them to be their cook & medic. The village of Nordegg, Alberta Canada for all they did to make Matt's dream a reality. There are people everywhere helping youngsters that are in need and they helped give so many children can experience a Hunt of A Lifetime.
If you are interested in helping a child live their dream, please contact us for more information. Even a small donation can help us towards the kids dreams.
Forever Grateful.....God Bless
Tina Pattison (National President)
Be Part of the Hunt
Dream Hunt
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Our Dream Hunts take young hunters into the wild to live out their greatest adventure. It’s more than a hunt — it’s a dream come true.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Join our team of dedicated volunteers helping children experience the hunt or fishing trip of their dreams. Whether you guide, fundraise, or help at events, every effort makes a difference.
Sponsor a Hunt
Volunteer Opportunities
Sponsor a Hunt
Our sponsors make every dream possible. Their generosity helps us grant hunting and fishing adventures to children facing life-threatening illnesses.
Capturing moments: Dreams in the wild
Help Us Make Dreams Come True
Your generous donations allow us to grant unforgettable hunting and fishing experiences for children facing life-threatening illnesses. Join us in making a difference in their lives and help turn their dreams into reality. Every contribution counts!
Media Sponsors
Upcoming Events
Stop by our booth to meet the Hunt of a Lifetime team, discover how we make dreams come true for children, enjoy games, and enter to win in our gun raffles!
Jan 16-18th 2026
Yankee Sportsman's Classic
All day
Essex Junction, VT
Event Details
Jan 16-18th 2026
Yankee Sportsman's Classic
2026 Showtimes:
Friday 1/16: 12pm-6pm
Saturday 1/17: 9am-6pm
Sunday 1/18: 9am-4pm
Tickets:
Adults: $15
Children 3–12 years old: $5
Children un...
All day
Essex Junction, VT
Feb 6-8th, 2026
Sportsmen's & Outdoor Recreation Show
All day
Roseburg, OR
Event Details
Feb 6-8th, 2026
Sportsmen's & Outdoor Recreation Show
FEBRUARY 6-8, 2026
Friday 12-7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission is $9.75 for adults
Children 6-12 are $1.50
Children...
All day
Roseburg, OR
Feb 20-22nd, 2026
Jackson County Sportsmen's & Outdoor Recreation Show
All day
Medford, OR
Event Details
Feb 20-22nd, 2026
Jackson County Sportsmen's & Outdoor Recreation Show
FEBRUARY 20-22nd, 2026
Friday 12-7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission is $9.75 for adults
Children 6-12 are $1.50
Chil...
All day
Medford, OR
Matthew's Story
My beautiful, sweet Matthew was diagnosed with a cancer that most of the time is curable, but not in his case. He had a rare type that multiplied faster than normal.
The treatments were harsh and I prayed to God that there might be a way for me to ease my boy's suffering. After a second bout in February 1998, Matthew underwent a stem cell transplant. As I waited for the procedure to come to a close, I once again turned my thoughts to God and His comforting embrace. I prayed that this treatment would be the end, that his doctors would, come to me and smile and tell me that the cancer was gone. What I prayed for most was the will to be strong for both myself and Matthew, to stand as a pillar for the both of us when Matthew was too weak to even sit up in bed. I prayed the prayer that every mother prays when she is in this wretched situation I prayed that there might be some way to ease my son's pain.
During this time, I would sit by Matthew's bedside, gently stroking his arm with my finger, and we would talk about "dreams" - mine and his. I asked him what he would like to do in the future, blocking out of my mind how difficult a Word like "future" can be when it is so uncertain. Matthew's forehead wrinkled for only a moment as he thought of what he wanted to do most in the world. He looked at me with eyes that were for that moment not those of a dying child, but those of a boy who wished for adventure - outside of the sterile confinement of a hospital room. He said, "Hunt moose with Dad." They had hunted together since Matt was a boy. But a big game hunt like Matt imagined would cost close to $ 10,000. With six children including one being tested for muscular dystrophy, it was far more than we could afford.
So, I contacted a wish granting organization. I had been told that they were devoted to making the dreams of terminally ill children come true, and I thought that they might be our best hope. In a rush of words and raw emotion I told the person who answered my call about Matthew's wish. The silence on the other end of the line stretched on for what seemed like an eternity before I was told that they were terribly sorry, but that they no longer fulfilled requests for hunting and unfortunately since Matthew was past his eighteenth birthday, he was no longer eligible for a wish of any kind.
Trembling and heartbroken, I wiped at the tears rolling down my face and wondered who would be able to help make Matthew's wish come true. Desperate, I called a list of outfitters and, after many agonizing and painful phone calls, we finally received a call from Clayton Grosso, an outfitter in Nordegg, a tiny village in Alberta, Canada. He told me that his wife Hilda had lost her right arm to cancer several years before and they both were so deeply touched by Matthew's story that they knew they must do everything in their power to provide him with a hunt. They assured us that everything would be taken care of at no cost to us! But as the October hunt neared, Matt's platelet count dipped dangerously low. His doctor warned him not to go on the trip. Matt just looked at him and said, ''I'm going and that's all there is to it." He knew that it was one of those dreams that wouldn't come around again. He knew it could be his last shot.
When my husband Chet and Matt arrived in Nordegg, they were shocked by what Clayton and Hilda had done. The two had told friends and neighbors about Matt and asked for help. The compassionate citizens of Nordegg went beyond anything I could imagine in their desire to do something for my son.
The town of 68 people graciously chipped in to cover the costs of the hunt. A helicopter pilot offered a free ride into the mountains. A local lodge gave them free housing and grocery stores provided the food. A feed store even gave them grain for the horses. And because Matt's blood had lost its clotting capabilities from the chemotherapy, Clayton's daughter-in-law, a licensed paramedic, took off a week from work and went along in case of any medical problems.
On their first day, Matt and Clayton's son Gene, a professional hunting guide, spotted a huge bull moose. With two shots, Matt dropped the bull in its tracks. Chet's eyes filled with pride and the realization that our son had fulfilled his dream.
For the rest of their stay, Matt and Chet enjoyed the hospitality of the Grosso family and the people of Nordegg. I will never forget the joy that these kindhearted family brought to my son. They treated Matt as more than just a stranger in need-they treated him as though he were family. They opened their homes and even shared a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Matt and Chet.
The fulfillment of his wish had a miraculous effect on Matt. Day by day, he grew healthier and stronger until one day God answered our prayers and told us that Matt was free and clear. He enjoyed a great season hunting for small game and deer, and had a fresh new outlook on fife. He never forgot the kind angels who helped him. During the Christmas holidays he talked about his plans of going to Canada to help Clayton, as a way of saying "thank you" to the Grossos for everything they had done.
Then in February on his six month check-up, my heart broke once again. The doctors discovered that the cancer was back and it was spreading quickly through his body. On April 28, 1999, six months after his hunting trip in Nordegg, God took Matt into his embrace.
After his passing, I decided to start a foundation that would fulfill dreams like Matt's. "Hunt of a Lifetime" would give terminally ill children the chance to embark on an outdoor hunting or fishing adventure. As the end of the year approached, I prayed and asked God to show me that this was his will, not mine. All I wanted for Christmas that year was a sign from God that I was doing the right thing.
On Christmas Eve, while we were preparing for our first holiday without Matt, the phone rang. The voice on the other end explained that his 14-year-old godson needed our help. A few days after the boy had received his hunter's safety certification, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Instead of enjoying his first buck harvesting, he was enduring the ravages of surgery and chemotherapy. Could we help him with his dreams and prayers? The boy's name was Matthew Riley. God had granted me the most precious gift that day. He had sent me another "Matthew" in order to understand that mine was in good hands and that Matthew's legacy would never be forgotten.
- Tina Pattison
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Contact Us
Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation
2227 Eastern Ave, Erie, PA, USA
814-572-4387 tina@huntofalifetime.org info@huntofalifetime.org
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
Donations
CFC# 98524
Make checks or money orders out to:
Hunt Of A Lifetime
Mail to: Hunt Of A Lifetime Foundation
P.O. Box 241
Harborcreek, PA 16421
Testimonials
Because Every Child Deserves a Dream
Your donation gives a critically ill child more than a hunt. It gives hope, strength, and a reason to keep fighting. Help create a moment of joy, courage, and family togetherness today.