At SkyWater Search Partners, we believe that one of our greatest strengths is our commitment to our community and how actively our team members engage with the many different communities they call their own. Each quarter, we honor a top-performing SkyWater employee with a substantial financial gift in their name, to a nonprofit community organization that is near and dear to them. This quarter, we are very proud to say...

Congratulations, Matt Hugdahl, Senior Associate Recruiter, Accounting & Finance!

When Matt found out he had won this quarter’s award, he knew immediately which organization he wanted to support: Achieving Cures Together (ACT). ACT is based in St. Louis Park. The organization is dedicated to advancing microbiome research.

Why ACT?

"Achieving Cures Together was founded by one of my longtime friends, Peter Westerhaus," says Matt. He says he is inspired, not only by the life-saving work of the organization but by Peter’s story. "This is really about someone who turned his own personal loss into a mission to help others," he says. "I have always supported ACT and I’m so happy to have SkyWater support them with this gift. I'm excited to share information about their work."

Founded by a Minnesota Football Star

ACT founder Peter Westerhaus was named Minnesota’s 2010 Mr. Football, a University of Minnesota football recruit, and excited about a career in professional football when a hiking accident changed the entire trajectory of his life. Peter suffered a traumatic brain injury, which led to additional internal injuries. Within months, it was clear that his dreams of playing in the NFL were over.

“He lost weight. He lost strength. He was miserable,” recalls Matt. In fact, Peter had become severely ill with ulcerative colitis. After trying multiple treatments with no long-term improvements, Peter became an early test patient for bacteriotherapy, a process using healthy bacteria from donor patients to treat a growing range of illnesses. But Peter wasn’t satisfied with simply regaining his own health. After transferring to the U of M Carlson School of Management, he became passionate about alleviating the suffering and isolation of others. Since its creation, ACT has helped fund continued research into Intestinal Microbiota Transplants that can restore damaged gut microbes.

Matt encourages everyone to learn more about ACT and how to support their important work at Achieving Cures Together.

Congratulations, Matt, and thank you!