VALDOSTA — A foundation is helping a man gain perspective on life and the importance of helping others after tragedy hit his home eight years ago.

Kyle Maltz, 23, expressed much gratitude to That Others May Live Foundation during a press conference held Friday at a center adorning his father’s name. The MSgt. Michael Maltz Professional Enhancement Center was designed to encompass what it means to improvise, adapt and overcome life’s circumstances, a belief the pararescueman followed in his own life and implanted into his children.

In 2003, MSgt. Maltz perished along with another pararescueman, pilot, co-pilot, gunner and flight engineer traveling on the Komoto One One (1-1) while attempting a humanitarian rescue mission in Afghanistan.

The mission was to rescue helpless children. The six honorable men died before arriving to their destination.

Despite his terrible loss, Kyle recently graduated from Western Washington University in Washington state with an undergraduate degree in communications and is pursuing his MBA at the same school.

His 19-year-old brother, Cody, is also attending the same university and shares living space with his older brother. Kyle said he is very fortunate to have had the support he received after losing his father, not only financially but personally as well.

“I have zero debt because of the foundation’s assistance,” Kyle said. “I am here today because of Laura Lerdall (the foundation’s deputy executive director of operations). There is no value you can put on the opportunities I have been given and the

 lessons I have learned through both the foundation and my father’s untimely death.”

That Others May Live is a foundation created in Las Vegas in 2002.

Lerdall said the mission is to assist children and war vets where the government cannot.

“We don’t want to imply that someone is not providing for them,” she said. “We just try to identify if there’s a gap. We’re really proud that we’re able to fulfill a need for these families and give back to them in some way and be a part of their success in a tiny way. We augment the funding that the kids may not be getting,” Lerdall further explained. “There’s a lot (that people need) and the government can’t provide for everything.”

Although not every story turns out positive, volunteers for the foundation have made it their duty to assist the families of Air Force men and women who have died while performing their duty for their country.

According to the director, she met Kyle and Cody when their father’s life was honored at the dedication ceremony for the enhancement center, located across from Moody Air Force Base.

She learned that the teens needed help paying for school and the organization mobilized to make sure they got what they needed.

One thing Kyle said he bought with funds given to him was a computer.

“I really needed that computer for school,” he smiled. “It has really come in handy, especially during my undergraduate years.”

Lerdall said the foundation didn’t just hand over money to Kyle; he prepared a budget which included what money he had already received through the government and what area he still had a need in.

To date, Lerdall said the foundation has 29 children in its pipeline, many of whom are babies. Actively, there are five children the foundation is helping.

“There’s never enough money,” she said. “Through donations and fundraisers, we are able to assist where we can.”

In order to help fund these efforts, That Others May Live is hosting a golf tournament at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club Saturday afternoon.

Nineteen teams of four golfers each were registered by Thursday afternoon. Registration begins at 1 p.m. today, and will include a prime rib lunch from Austin’s Cattle Company. Individuals will pay $75 for a full round of golf, while a team of four pays $300. Individuals will be teamed up before the event. The tournament was assembled by the hard work of Leadership Lowndes Class of 2011 Community Service Group 2.

Kyle said he does not have any intention of playing in the tournament but will definitely be in attendance. He is scheduled to depart Valdosta on Sunday and return to Bellingham, Wash. He also said he is not sure exactly what he wants to do with his degree after he completes the program, but is leaning towards owning a business again.  The laid back, comedic student said he once owned two businesses but got “tired of them,” he laughed. Kyle mentioned he is not sure about joining the military ranks and it was never something talked about in his household.

“Both of my parents were active duty while in Florida,” he said, “but then my mom got out and went back to school. She graduated about 1 1/2 — 2 years before my dad died.”

Kyle’s parents divorced approximately one year before the master sergeant died, and the two boys lived in Redmond, Wash. with their mother, who joined the reserves after the death of her ex-husband.

Kyle’s parents remained in good contact with each other, and the young boy spoke to his father often by phone. The young man’s humor and constant smile faded a bit while remembering the day he found out his father, the hero, had passed. He told the media he was in his driveway when a white SUV adorn with a military tag pulled up and a nurse got out.

“It was then that I knew something happened,” Kyle softly said. “I was in the ninth grade. It was hard to deal with for a long time. I began to have regrets... regrets about not saying I love you enough. I had just talked to my dad like a week prior to his death, and wished I had another opportunity to tell him that I loved him. People take things for granted. I don’t anymore. My dad’s death was a big lesson. It really makes me mad to hear people say, ‘Oh, I will do that someday.’

You have to take advantage of opportunities while you can, you have to tell the people closest to you that you love them, you have to seize the moment.”

Before the interview concluded, Kyle reminisced about the good times he and his brother had with their father while living in Valdosta. He talked about the time they lived on Honeysuckle and their adventures of catching alligators. The young man’s face lit up whenever words about his father were spoken.

Mark Lerdall, husband to Laura and  MSgt. Maltz’s co-worker, said he knows just where that compassion stems from.

“Michael was the ultimate PJ (para-rescuemen),” Mark said while remembering his friend. “He was the epitome of what every PJ should  be ... just a shining example of every rescue man.”

Kyle said he lived an adventurous life while growing up in a military household that not all civilian children would understand. He said he has already made plans to work with the foundation after he completes his Master’s program. His brother, Cody, already helps with the foundation along with two others while working on his undergraduate degree. Kyle said life is good and he is looking forward to seeing what adventures face him in the future.

For more information about the golf tournament or other foundation news, visit www.thatothersmaylive.org or contact Laura Lerdall at (229) 794-1702.

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