The Good Life – November-December 2017

COVER // MATT CULLEN
“We feel like it's on us to give back and make a
difference. Those are the things that last — more
so than how many goals you score or how many
Stanley Cups you win. I think it's what you do with
what you've been given." – Matt Cullen
Never taking ‘no’ for an answer, Cullen deked out every
obstacle en route to his dreams.
“Being on a team that won the Cup three different times
— that's what'll go down as my very favorite memories,"
he said. "There are a lot of good players who played the
game for a long time and never had the chance to play for
the Stanley Cup. To experience that — go through that
three different times with two different teams — is just
more than I ever would have dreamed of, honestly. That's
as good as it gets."
Sticks Down, Charity Up
In his (limited) free time, Cullen turns his focus to his
Cullen’s Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization
that raises money for children's healthcare in Fargo-
Moorhead and the surrounding area.
“Fargo-Moorhead is what we'll always consider home,”
Cullen said of he and Bridget. “We felt like that was the
place we really wanted to make an impact and make a
difference.”
The inspiration for the organization came from a 4-yearold
boy with a cancerous brain tumor Matt and Bridget
had met in Italy. The couple had known they wanted to
start an organization, so when Jacopo came into their
lives, their cause was clear.
"That was one of those things that spurred us to really
get going on it — take it from an idea to really moving on
and making it into something," Cullen said.
Thanks to the foundation’s board members and
Bridget, who takes over once hockey season starts, the
organization is able to remain active throughout the
winter.
“She drives the engine on the whole thing,” Cullen
said of his wife. “She takes over a lot of the load in the
winter, along with raising the boys — school, hockey
and all that comes with that. It enables us to continue to
do what we do too in the winter, and get to the summer
where we can really do more.”
Cullen is thankful the community has gotten behind the
organization as well.
"It's become a big foundation and we've been able
to impact a lot of different people and kids,” he said.
“That's more than we could have ever hoped for going
into it.”
After taking a break the last handful of years — having
funded $1 million for Cully’s Kids Cabin at Sanford —
the team is ready to put some new ideas into play.
"We're in the process of doing some exciting things
that we think are really going to help the community
and have a direct impact on people's lives," Cullen said.
"(The foundation) is something that Bridget and I feel
really strongly about. It'll be something that we support
for the rest of our lives.”
While the Cullen’s family schedule is already packed
22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com