“Peter just doesn’t look at the world as what is best for him. He looks at what he can do in this world tomake it better for others, and then he does it,” says Teresa Moisant, MAS, owner of distributor Moisant Promotional Products in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and another of Hirsch’s nominators. “He sets the example for others follow. He, by example, has shown somany of us how to assume this responsibility. I am a better person because Peter has showedme, and somany others in our industry, how to give and enjoy seeing others prosper. He shows us how, together, we can make a bigger impact on the wellbeing of others.” As a veteran himself, having served in the South African Army, Hirsch sought a way to connect with veterans in the U.S. In the wake of the hurricanes, Hirsch was moved to partner with a small business that would donate a significant portion of its profits to benefit veterans. In 2017, he co-founded Patriot Coolers, LLC, and its line of drinkware, coolers and lunchboxes. Each year, Patriot Coolers donates 20 percent of its net proceeds to Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a Taunton, Massachusetts-based nonprofit with a mission to build and donate specially adapted, customhomes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives. This year, Hirsch and his son and business partner, Vice President Paul Hirsch, presented a check to HFOT for $100,000 on behalf of Patriot Coolers. Collectively, Patriot Cooler has donated over $200,000 to HFOT. “I’m very grateful, as an immigrant, because this country owes me nothing, but I owe it everything,” says Hirsch. Recalling a recent experience, he says, “I was just recently at a groundbreaking event for HFOT and one of the injured vets stood up, and he spoke, and something he said really resonated withme. In recognizing a fellowwounded veteran at a groundbreaking ceremony at his new house, he said, ‘I’ve never met himbefore, but he’s my brother, and I’m prepared to give upmy life for my brother, nomatter that we’ve never met.” Jo Ann Crawford, a hospital volunteer in the Houston area who collects various gifts for in-patient veterans, and another of Hirsch’s nominators, says, “Nationwide, each one of us had experienced ‘The Year 2020.’ COVID-19, deaths and unattended funerals, hurricanes, tornadoes, national and local elections, unemployment, working from home, business closures, school closures andmany others. Yet, when I contactedMr. Hirsch regarding assistance, which was needed from across our Southern Gulf states, his first and only comment tome was, ‘No matter where our servicemen and women are, let us work together.’ Mr. Hirsch’s assistance with the PTSD, PTS, ROVER andWISER programs allows our American servicemen and women to have the knowledge that even while recovering, they are not forgotten.” One of Hirsch’s latest charitable endeavors is for Hirsch Gift to act as a sponsor for Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), a Roseville, Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides backpacks filled with new school supplies for students in need. Still in its infancy stage, Hirsch says the plan is for select products fromTangelo, a brand of cutting-edge tech products, to be earmarked for the cause, in addition to a giveback component, so that “every Tangelo product that is sold will be a contribution to KINF,” he says. During his time in the industry thus far, Hirsch has served in various positions on HPPA’s board of directors from 2008-2017, and he’s the current co-chair of the HPPA Tradeshow Committee, a position he’s held for the past 12 years. With PPAI, he’s served inmany committee and volunteer roles, including as a member of the Government Relations Advisory Council from 2016-2020, a participant in PPAI L.E.A.D. from 2015-2016 and as a PPEF donor since 2006. In 2016, Hirsch was named a PPAI Fellow, and he’s also been recognized for his generosity over the years as the HPPA Volunteer of the Year in 2017, as recipient of the Bess Cohn Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2018, and in 2020, he was inducted into the HPPA Hall of Fame. Of the 2022 PPAI H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award, Hirsch says, “It means everything tome. I think it’s a wonderful gesture on behalf of PPAI, and I just ampretty much overwhelmed with the response. I’ve had a lot of congratulatory messages and in actually receiving the award, I also receive a real privilege, because I know not only that H. Ted Olson was a wonderful humanitarian, but all my predecessors who received this award, most of whom I knew personally, have done tremendous work in this area. I’m really, really proud to be a part of this community.” Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB. “Peter just doesn’t look at theworld aswhat is best for him. He looks at what he cando in thisworld tomake it better for others, and thenhe does it.” Teresa Moisant, MAS Opposite page, from left: Peter Hirsch (second from left) with colleagues during PPAI's L.E.A.D. event on Capitol Hill; a check presentation to Homes For Our Troops; with son, Paul Hirsch during Hurricane Ida relief efforts. This page, from top: Hirsch with his youngest granddaughter, Charlotte and wife, Elaine; working a forklift to load hurricane disaster donations. | DECEMBER 2021 | 61 THINK
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