If there’s one thing about the holidays I never tire of it’s the music and that’s just the spirit behind AIDAAN.org, which gives iPods to children facing extended stays in the hospital. From Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys to Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt to Sponge Bob, inspirational or motivational songs get uploaded by the angels in disguise who receive an iPod. AIDAAN.org is not only the namesake of the charity it also stands for Angels in Disguise Are Always Near.
AIDAAN.org formed in the name of a young man who has been fighting cancer since he was three. He is now thirteen.
Aidan Immroth helps decorate each iPod for each child who receives one, according to what the person who nominated the child describes as the child’s favorite things. The children load their own songs from choices on the website and start off with a gift card on iTunes.
Here are the favorite Christmas songs of one angel is disguise, Luke.
Angels We Have Heard on High/Cristina Aguilera
The Chipmunk Song/Alvin & The Chipmunks
The Christmas Song/Mel Tormé
Feliz Navidad/Celine Dion
Frosty The Snowman/Gene Autry
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas/Aimee Mann
Here Comes Santa Claus/Bing Crosby
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus/Jimmy Boyd
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas/Perry C
Jingle Bell Rock/Bobby Helms
Jingle Bells/Barry Manilow (duet with Exposé)
Jingle Bells/Frank Sinatra
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!/Aaron Neville
Little Saint Nick/The Beach Boys
Mele Kalikimaka/Bette Midler
Rokin’ Around The Christmas Tree/Brenda Lee
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer/Gene Autry
Santa Baby/Eartha Kitt
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (single version)/Bruce Springstein
Silver Bells/Gene Autry
Sleigh Ride/Ella Fitzgerald
White Christmas/Taylor Swift
The co-founder of AIDAAN.org lives in San Francisco and finds inspiration in a song from Wicked. Kelly Porter blogs about the song Defying Gravity. (Click for youtube video.) If you listen to the song, which is on Youtube, you hear how working in tandem you can overcome, how working together you and I will defy gravity.
Kelly told me over the phone one recipient’s favorite musical is Suessical the Musical.
He finds inspiration in a quote from the musical that says, “I’m not dead yet.” He wants everyone to know that he is living with cancer, and it is not going to get the best of him. He is truly a hero, and an angel in disguise.
Kelly went to Texas State outside of Austin and went to London for a course in philosophy and religion. To my surprise, this successful young San Francisco banker started as a communications major. He worked as a news channel photographer in television journalism in his small hometown.
His kind and gentle soul comes Texas size and it’s big enough to include a love of animals. The southern gentleman stands 6’4” with blond hair and blue eyes and one can still detect a little southern drawl. His nickname when he was growing up was Geoffrey, like the baby giraffe from Toys R Us, because of his height. He traveled recently to Puerto Vallarta where he swam with dolphins and got a dolphin kiss.
Does he kiss and tell?
Kelly brought his two French Bulldogs Beverly and Bistro to San Francisco with him from Texas. Here Bev in her cowgirl dress with denim ruffles and gold glitter takes down Bistro.
Advent Software grants funds to AIDAAN.org; Working with UCSF
Kelly co-founded the organization with his best friend, Hallie Immroth of AIDAAN.org Hallie is Aidan’s mom, and they met in Austin 12 years ago. Hallie was also Kelly’s first boss. AIDAAN.org started as a small charity by the Kelly and the Immroths. Aidan’s younger brother helped raise funds with a lemonade sale. She works out of Houston where the 22 iPods have been given. Plans include a fundraiser in San Francisco in the upcoming year, organized by Travis Rew. Travis is a professional event manager in San Francisco who works for a software company. Advent Software provided a grant to the organization, and Kelly is putting those funds to good use here in California. He is currently working with UCSF to find angels in California that are dealing with the challenges of cancer treatment.
AIDAAN.org receives 2010 grant from Young Texans Against Cancer
Recently, the organization was also selected by the Young Texans Against Cancer organization as the recipient for the 2010 grant. The funds will be used to research music therapy, work with hospitals across Texas and California to find new angels, and to help provide additional support for those families dealing with cancer.
The guiding principals of AIDAAN.org include bringing joy and comfort through music; and changing people’s lives in one little way that they really need. AIDAAN.org aims to keep things small and personal.
Kelly says donations have been coming from all over the country, from family members to those who listen to grant presentations. It’s a 501(c)(3) or non-profit charitable corporation so donations are fifty percent deductible.
For more information go to www.AIDAAN.org or become a fan on Facebook: Click here: AIDAAN Facebook. You can also email Kelly at Kelly@aidaan.org.
Other December events:
Christmas compassion and making spirits soar: ACT's A Christmas Carol
Met's new production of "Tales of Hoffman" simulcast in HD on Saturday, December 19
Philharmonia Baroque (Friday December 11 at Herbst)--Vivaldi Christmas
Cirque de la Symphonie dazzled and defied death
Christmas performances include the Preservation Hall jazz band from New Orleans. One night only, Saturday, December 19. For more information: www.SFSymphony.org/holiday or call (415) 864-6000.
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