Who is Matthew Axelson? Matthew “Axe” Axelson was a United States Navy SEAL who was killed in the War in Afghanistan. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the highest award the Navy can give, for his actions during Operation Red Wings, in which he was killed. He is survived by his parents Donna and Corky, his wife Cindy, and his brother Jeff.

Over the years since Matt’s death, his family has had the honor to be supported by so many wonderful people. Support from the tight knit community of the SEAL Teams, other families of the fallen heroes of Operation Red Wings, the broader military community, and the country as a whole gave them a renewed spirit. Without all of this support, there is no way they would have been able to heal.

The goal of the Matthew Axelson Foundation is to give back to this community and to recognize and support active, former, and retired SEALs and their families. We accomplish this through our partnership with organizations like the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the SEAL Future Foundation, and more.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to developing lasting relationships that will give us all a bit more heart with which to live our lives in full.

God Bless

Our mission

The Matthew Axelson Foundation is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Matthew "Axe" Axelson, a courageous United States Navy SEAL, whose love for family, friends, country, and life embodied strength, truth, and a full heart. Grounded in the values that Matt held closest, our mission is to reflect his commitment to family, friendship, country, and to support his brothers in arms after their service or to support the children of other heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Foundation does this by fostering community between former and retired SEALs and civilians, bringing together like-minded individuals and organizations to benefit and inspire both to be more and push the boundaries in their own lives and communities and to foster the spirit of camaraderie that sustained Matt's family in the aftermath of his loss. With gratitude for the support we have received over the years, we look forward to developing lasting relationships which will support these special operators and other heroes.