You don’t have to be a super star athlete to make a big difference.

Jake Gallin, 14, started Stars for Cars to honor and remember military families.

In 2011, the 8-year-old from New Rochelle, NY was watching a segment on the Oprah Winfrey Show featuring Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. The women talked about the sacrifices that “Blue Star” and “Gold Star” families make. Blue stars recognize the families with loved ones who are currently serving our country, and gold stars honor those who have lost a family member in combat.

Gallin learned that one percent of the U.S. population protects the other 99 percent of the country.

He was so compelled by the segment that he came up with the idea to create magnetic decals recognizing Blue and Gold Star Families. He designed the decals and chose its accompanying words wisely:  “We Support Blue Star & Gold Star Military Families.”

“The car decal takes the idea of the Blue and Gold stars and allows you to put it on your car to show your support for the sacrifices of our troops and their families,” Gallin said. “I hope I am having an impact on every single person who hears the announcement or sees a star decal on the car in front of them.”

On the Stars for Cars website, Gallin sells the 5.5-inch decals for $10 a piece with all proceeds going directly to the USO of Metropolitan New York. He also does the outreach for the program. He has sent over 7,000 letters to schools and government officials to spread the word about honoring these families. More than 100 schools in seven states signed on to get involved. At the time of this writing, Stars for Cars has raised about $20,000.

The New York Yankees were so impressed by the teen that on Monday, players like Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, Brett Gardner, and former Yankee Mariano Rivera surprised him in his hometown.

Rivera even went around decorating cars with Blue and Gold Stars.

Bigger than the stars of the game, the team made a $10,000 to Gallpin’s cause.

This marks day one of HOPE Week for the New York Yankees, which is dedicated to reaching out to various individual, family or organization worthy of recognition and support. Each day’s celebration culminates at Yankee Stadium with outreach happening away from the Stadium, allowing the Yankees to personally connect with individuals in the settings of their greatest successes or at locations that honor the spirit of their endeavors.