Cuz Itt Matters.

This page is dedicated to Matt Marshburn and organized by Cuzz Itt Matters/Tribes

Their mission is to show ‘At Risk’ youths that they can do things that seem impossible, like flying an aircraft.

Proving to themselves they can do much more than they ever thought was possible. Giving them confidence to face new challenges in life, sparking hope and imagination, and conquering fears. This is Matt’s Story.

Donate

All donations go directly towards funding flights for our youth.

Matt was born in North Carolina, spending most of his youth outdoors as well as tearing apart and rebuilding anything with a motor. He developed an early passion for aviation and joined the Air Force after high school, serving two tours overseas.

Afterwards, he began his career at Gulfstream Areospace working on his beloved GIV aircraft. His knowledge got him noticed by NetJets where he became a maintenance controller and was integral in moving the Gulfstream division from Columbus, OH down to Savannah.

Unfortunately, his health forced him to retire early. By chance, he met and mentored a young man, Stephen, who he took on a piloted discovery flight. The success of that flight and relationship gave him the idea to find “at risk” youth who would also benefit from such an experience.

In retirement, Matt picked up guitar and a few short years later was preforming onstage. He used the stage name Cousin Itt, referencing the Adams Family character: little guy, hairy, doesn’t play well with others. All funds that he earned went to his account to “fly kids.”

Matt met Jim, who runs the local Tribes program and teaches in the public school system, through mutual friends. Together they developed the current Cuz Itt Matters/Tribes Program and Matt’s legacy will live on through the continuation of flights.

  Along with these flights are several life lessons, or “waypoints”, that become very real and very profound at three thousand feet.

Waypoints

  • Waypoint 1

    Treat your life like it’s a flight. Pick a co-pilot/friend who is going to help you navigate through life, not get you into trouble and crash.

  • Waypoint 2

    You are in control of your life, just like this aircraft. If you make bad moves, life and this plane are going to give you bad moves.

  • Waypoint 3

    Turbulence. Didn’t see it coming, didn’t deserve it, didn’t ask for it. So what? You have to deal with it and make corrections or you will crash. Life will give you turbulence. Getting angry, scared or sad about it does nothing. Make adjustments, learn from it and continue on. Be prepared for more turbulence, everyone encounters it.

  • Waypoint 4

    Face your fears. Conquer them. Don’t let fear stop you from doing anything in your life. After all, you flew an aircraft two thousand feet over a city!

  • Waypoint 5

    Take care of your body like an aircraft. It’s the only one you get on this voyage of life. Why would you willingly put drugs/ contaminates in your own fuel tank? Treat your body well or it only take you as far as the crash site. There is no reset when you crash.

  • Waypoint 6

    The color of your aircraft at any altitude or attitude is irrelevant. How you pilot your aircraft, is very relevant.

  • Waypoint 7

    The sky shows no favor. Gravity has no pity. There are bad people. Life is not fair. Don’t take hardships or misdeeds personal, don’t dwell on them. Learn from them and be prepared, so there will be no ‘next time.’

  • Waypoint 8

    You will never look at the sky the same way again. It will be a constant and vivid reminder of these lessons learned on that day.