ABOUT US & OUR MY HERO FUND
WHO WE ARE
Greetings!
We are Matthew and Jaclyn Miller, co-founders of MY HERO under UMBO Books, a veteran-owned enterprise based in sunny San Diego, CA. Matt currently serves in the US Navy, while Jaclyn works as an audiologist, caring for active-duty service members in the San Diego area. Our venture into MY HERO emerged from our deep passion for storytelling and fostering connections, inspired by our personal journey as a military family.
OUR STORY
Matthew and Jaclyn's story begins with the birth of their oldest son, Mason. Jaclyn was due to deliver Mason in December 2019, and Matt was scheduled to deploy in January. While Matt prepared for deployment on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Jaclyn searched for ways to keep Matt and Mason connected during their time apart.
They found solace in recordable storybooks, which allowed Matthew to read to Mason even from a distance. Each night, Jaclyn would play the stories Matthew had recorded, creating a special connection between father and son despite the physical separation.
When Matthew finally returned home after the long deployment, Mason was initially unsure of who he was. The moment Matth spoke, Mason recognized his voice and his face lit up with joy, a moment that underscored just how powerful the impact of those recordable books had been in maintaining their bond.
While deployed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the ship was famously sidelined in Guam due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Matt was part of the "skeleton crew" that stayed aboard after most sailors were evacuated. At the time sailors had no access to SIM cards, leading to hefty phone bills as they struggled to contact their families. After receiving calls from frustrated family members, Matt told Jaclyn, who immediately contacted the CEO of AT&T. Her efforts led to all major U.S. carriers waiving the charges for the affected sailors. This experience showed them the power of individual action to make a difference.
After the deployment, Matt transitioned to shore duty, and in September 2022, they welcomed their second son, Hayden, who was later diagnosed with an eye muscle condition requiring frequent prescription glasses not covered by TRICARE. At the same time, they were undergoing home renovations and living in their garage. Amid these challenges, they taught their older son, Mason, to dress himself, nicknaming him "The Backwards Man" for putting his clothes on backward. This playful moment inspired Matt and Mason to co-create Benny Backwards, a whimsical tale. Proceeds from the book were donated to help Matt’s friend’s son, Cannon, who was and still is currently battling stage-four cancer, further solidifying their mission to help others.
The success of Benny Backwards encouraged Matt to continue writing, leading to his second book, My Daddy, My SWO (Surface Warfare Officer), inspired by his Navy career. This book sparked the creation of the My Mommy, My Daddy 12-book series, celebrating the sacrifices and pride of military families. One night, Matt had the idea to pair a plush toy with the book. Jaclyn suggested making a recordable book like the one they used with Mason during Matt’s deployment, but after discovering that recordable books were proprietary, Matt proposed placing the recorder inside the plush toy instead—giving birth to the My Hero doll.
Eager to develop the idea, Matt reached out to his former skipper, Brett Crozier, who provided guidance and support. Matt and Jaclyn met with Brett regularly to refine their vision. Their goal wasn’t just to create another toy, but to build a tool that would bridge the gap for military families, enabling them to stay connected through storytelling, no matter the distance. This led to the founding of UMBO, named after Jaclyn’s expertise as an audiologist. The umbo is the small part of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) where the eardrum connects to the handle of the malleus, a tiny bone in the middle ear and helps in transmitting sound vibrations to the middle ear. The name symbolizes their commitment to fostering communication and connection. The red glasses in UMBO’s logo represent Hayden’s own journey with prescription glasses, symbolizing their dedication to helping military families like theirs. The My Hero doll became more than a product-it became a mission to support families and keep them connected, regardless of where duty called.
Even as MY HERO is just starting out, Matt and Jaclyn are already focused on the next step with My HERO 2.0 and UMBO Connect, their upcoming app for iOS and Android. UMBO Connect will make sharing stories effortless, allowing families to pair stories directly with the MY HERO doll. With a simple button press, parents or children can select and connect a story to the doll, enhancing the family connection no matter where they are.
In San Diego with their sons, Mason and Hayden, and their dog, Olivia, Matt and Jaclyn are dedicated to spreading joy, strengthening connections, and fostering family bonds through MY HERO and UMBO Books.
Their vision for UMBO is continous. Their plans span far into the future with proprietary innovative ideas that will even further the ability for families to connect. They feel humbled by amazingly talentled people they've met during this journey and remain focused on their mission: using storytime and technology to bring families closer together.
"We are the humble recipients of radical generosity. It isn’t every day that someone writes a book like Benny Backwards and donates the proceeds to your family’s current battle - that’s Backwards. We hope that each and every reader enjoys the message in Benny Backwards. How truly special it is to witness the innocence of children & their desires - they are the most fun of all. 3 year old Cannon has a different journey than most as he was diagnosed with high risk, stage 4, metastatic neuroblastoma on Feb 16, 2024. A lot of Cannon’s childhood may look ‘different’, but in fact we know that Christ works together all things for the good of those who love him." -Caleb Pavlus.