The Orban’s Nursery poinsettia sale is in its 25th year. However, this year some of the proceeds will help soldiers and their families.

This season Orban’s in Bradenton grew 200,000 poinsettias. The whole sale nursery only opens to the public once a year, for the annual poinsettia sale. This year, 20 percent of the proceeds are going to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

“They help families of warriors that have been killed, that sort of thing. So we just thought it would be really nice to be able to support,” said Marty Orban, owner of Orban’s Nursery.

Seth Jahn, 32, knows the importance of an agency like Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Jahn was inspired by the tragedies of 9/ 11 and passion to help others. He spent 10 years fighting in the United States Army.

“It’s almost as though we have a responsibility and obligation to help those who are in need,” said Jahn.

Jahn was a Special Operations soldier and he did three tours -- two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.

“It was amazing to be part of something so much greater then myself,” Jahn said.

Jahn’s life was changed forever during a five-hour fight in Afghanistan. The vehicle he was in tipped over in a river. His injuries nearly killed him

“I ended up drowning. Ended up in a river inverted. I sustained traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, nerve damage,” Jahn said. “I was injured all over the place.”

Jahn was paralyzed for six months and hospitalized for over a year. Doctors said he would never walk again. However, they were wrong.

“Once I moved my toe, I was like we are good to go. Now I want to climb Mt. Everest!” he said.

While Jahn has yet to conquer Everest, he has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and dog sledded in Norway. He’s also gone scuba diving in Iceland and was an MMA fighter in Thailand. He now plays for the U.S. Paralympic National Soccer Team.

Jahn says he wouldn’t be here without help from charities such as Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

“They actually provided a stipend of $25,000 to fly my family up to see me in the hospital. Which was awesome,” he said.

On Saturday, thousands of holiday shoppers came to Orban’s Nursery to buy holiday poinsettias and help veterans.

Vietnam veteran Mark Hoagland bought several poinsettias for his family, knowing it would help others.  

“It’s incredible to me that they are sacrificing some of their profits so that other people can be helped,” said Hoagland.

“It’s awesome to see the patriotism and the desire to help other people,” Jahn said, “Especially special operators who really are on the front line.”

Orban’s believes over $3,000 will go to the foundation and on top of that, shoppers could donate directly to the foundation. One woman from Bradenton wrote a $2,000 check.