I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for the overwhelming amount of support you have given my family. Since last night we have received over $10,000 in donations. When I started this site I only expected to receive donations from friends and family. I was hopeful that we would get enough to make my brother’s wish come true. Even in my wildest dreams, I imagined we would receive enough money to do this for 2 waiters or waitresses. What has happened is absolutely incredible.
Right now we have enough money to change the lives of 23 more people, $500 at a time. That is nothing short of amazing. Please know that absolutely every penny we receive will go toward nothing but this. We will pay to host the website. We will pay for the food. Absolutely 100% of the donations we receive will be given to random waiters or waitresses. Our goal is to do this once a week, for as long as you give us the opportunity.
The stories, comments, and notes have touched my heart. They have given my mother, father, sisters, and me strength. The way my brother’s last wish has inspired people is incredible. It is my hope that even if you can’t donate, but feel moved, you will give your own huge tip and share the story here. If you are a waiter or waitress who receives a huge tip because of Aaron’s wish, please tell us.
Again, thank you all so much for your own generosity. Thank you for allowing me to help facilitate your acts of kindness. You have amazed me.
44 Responses to Over $10,000 in One Day!
This is amazing!
Amazing… wow what a guy! I see this going big… bigger than it already is.
WOW ITS NOT EVERYDAY SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE ELSE I HAVE TO SAY ITS VERY KIND OF YOU TO DO THAT FOR YOUR BROTHER I WISH I COULD HELP IN SOME WAY BUT ME I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO AND IM A LIMITED INCOME MYSELF BUT IN GODS EYES YOU HAVE MADE SOMEONE VERY HAPPY MAYBE SOON I CAN HELP TOO
I seen this on the NineMsn News website, from Perth, Australia!
I don’t know Aaron, but this touched my heart in so many ways than just one – It’s a truly amazing story & it’s completely heartbreaking that someone as special as Aaron is no longer with us – Someone up there must have wanted such an Angel to help out up there!!!
Rest In Peace, Aaron! I’m sure you are smiling back at your Family & Friends for following through your one wish & taking care of them!
You are a true hero & your family & friends were the most luckiest people in the world to have known someone like you & them in their lives. They would be proud!
Your Amazing!
This is such an inspiring story. one persons wish will make so many other people happy. I wish you all the best and hope this doesnt stop. I have shared this on facebook in hopes of others reading this and making selfless dessions day in and day out.
I am convinced that Aaron has a beautiful soul and a heart that overflows with goodness. For him to selflessly think of others while in his deathbed speaks of the generosity and purity of his spirit. To his family, that you for sharing him and his story with us. I may not be able to send you a check to help you sustain your efforts but I’m going to do, more often, random acts of kindness to people in my corner of the world.
Again, my sincerest thanks for having been blessed by Aaron and his family. May God encircle you in His loving care.
God bless you, Aaron! May your good example live on and on and on…
We all need to follow Aaron’s lead by being kind to others. Like the old saying goes, ” Kill them with kindness “. It’s amazing how good you can feel just by treating others with kindness regardless of who they are or what they have done. I hope more people see what can come of a selfless act such as this and implement it into their lives somehow. It is a quick and sure cure for the blues, to be nice and help another just because you can.
THis is TRULY a blessed young man and tho his life may have been short lived HIS memory and SPIRIT will forever go on by his Family and Loved ones and the lives they TOUCH one by one.
I am 30yrs old now and try to do the same in my life as well. HELP someone else to remember that even when life has ups and downs KINDNESS is MIRACLES DO HAPPEN. My M\mother has just suffered a masive stroke as of June 1 2012. She is 50 yrs old and has NEVER been hospitalized for anything EXCEPT for the birth of my younger sister,my twin and I. She is in the beginning process not able to speak and it has been hard. WE have full FAITH that she will recover tho it will take time. I WISH that you keep her in your PRAYERS as she is in ours. SHE has done so many GREAT things in her time for soo many and HaS been BLESSED in so many ways. Your story and Aaron’s HEART has raised a NEW Warmth. IT REMINDS ME OF MY MOM and That ALL THINGS are possible. I AM SURE HE IS SMILING FROM ABOVE that even in his Passing he is still SUCH A BLESSING. GOD BLESS.
I really hope that the people who receive the money do something great with, just as this person does. Hopefully this inspires a number of people and continues to grow bigger.
This is purely awesome. I am one of those, who always think about ME!
Maybe people like me should learn something from this. Hats off!!!
Oh my gosh! $10,000! I can’t believe it!! I cannot stop smiling! It brings me so much happiness to see Aaron be able to continue to touch others with his kind heart. This is nothing but a testament to what a beautiful person he was, and I am finding so much peace in knowing what an impact he is creating around the world. It is truly amazing, and I am incredibly blessed to have known such a wonderful person. You will live on forever, Aaron. <3
You must be very proud of your brother !!! It shows the compassion he was taught by his parents and family. BTW: Please call an accountant immediately. You must set up a trust or related intity for your brother….Good Luck
Making another person’s day amazing, what a beautiful legacy!
I’m a grown man and I’m fighting back tears! Your story about your brother and his wish is very moving. I only wish that more people see this and realize that we can all do more for others. I am inspired to do more!!!!!
This is incredibly inspiring, thank you for sharing your story and for sending the right message to people. One simple good deed can change the path of someone’s life.
I am so impressed that you are following Aaron’s wishes. Such a wonderful example of love and generosity. I wish you the best and plan to try and make someone’s day in the future:) But for now, I have posted your website on my facebook page. Hopefully, one of the hundreds of friends I have will come on over and help you guys continue the dream!
For many reasons this has made me cry. What a beautiful way to keep Aaron’s memory alive! Thank you and please, carry on
Very touching story. You are an amazing family to do this. I could not help myself had to contibute.
hi!!! i’m from Venezuela and my english is not the best, but i have to tell you that this story really moved me…i’m mom of the two mot beautiful little girls on the world…and sometimes i look around me and i’m scared for the kind of place that they have for live….but cause people like you’r brothter, you and your family i satrt to have hope again…cause with facts like that i know that still are hope for the world that my girls will live….. cause of the laws of money change of my country is impossible for me give u some money, but, u can be sure that the next time that i go with my daughters to dinner in some place i’ll leave a big tip on behalf of Aaron and all of you!!! thanks for to share your story with the world…. thousand kises for the entire family!!!
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This is a simply amazing story!!! I read about this on http://www.foxnews.com and it really touched me….. In a world of people only out to do each other wrong theres this amazing group of people remembering someone I only wish I could have known. I’ve lost a lot of people very close to me in my 29 years yet only one to cancer. I dont have that much but i couldnt help but to be a part of this cause in making the life of someone else just a little better…. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!!
Excellent story! I am in the process of getting a job and once I do, I will donate to Aaron’s cause!
now that is something worth believing in!
cheers from the Netehrlands
You, (brother of Aaron) and your family are absolutely wonderful to abide by your brother’s last wishes. This is such a heart-warming story and even though I am sorry your bro has passed, I’m sure he’s definitely happy where he is and that if he could see what you guys are doing, he’d be grinning ear-to-ear
Just wow…these are the things in life that remind us that there is so much good in the hearts of some people- So much selflessness- so much appreciation. These are the things in life that make us stop and think for a moment to appreciate what we have, and what we can do for others to make their lives just a bit better, and change them forever.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing legacy. Your brother, son, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend, etc sounds like a remarkable young man. I’m sorry he passed away so early in life. But this legacy will keep in living in your thoughts and hearts for many many years. All the best to you and your family
I am sorry for the loss of your brother – he sounds like he had an amazing heart. He would be proud of the way your are honoring his memory.
People who wait tables are some of the hardest working people on the planet. I did it while I held down another job full time and carried a full load at college. My sister and her husband both wait tables at the same pancake house while she works her way through school and starts her career. Her husband started on weekends in addition to his full time job to help shore up family finances to allow my sister to pursue her education. My niece waits tables too… a step in getting her life together after kicking a severe drug habit and a stint in rehab. Everyone has a story in life, but even outside of my family, some of the most moving are servers who work hard to get ahead. If someone were to drop a tip on that on one of my family members who is currently serves, I don’t know if a one of them would able to not burst out in tears – it would make such a difference as they struggle to pursue their dreams. What a blessing to be able to do that for someone… now you can do that for a couple of dozen souls. Amazing!
My best to you and your family…
What you are doing to honor your son/brother is amazing. I hope this leads to other people showing the same kindness as each of you have. I wish we had more people in the world like Aaron and you and your family.
This is amazing!
i left replies to other comments…it was very sweet of him to think of his favorite server. we get customers that are regulars and it may be because we become like family when youre there awhile. we work our butts off. i have gotten awesome tips for no reason before. it really makes our day when somebody does something like that. and it is a shame that people didnt really think about this until that sweetie and his family made that servers day.
SIMPLY AMAZING! THANK YOU for fullfilling your brothers wish and then some! I will make sure The next time i go out to eat i will leave a great tip on AARONS behalf
I am living in Spain and just to say what a remarkable family you are keeping Aaron memory alive and touching so many people lives god bless you all.
Aaron Collins’ heart was of gold.
What an amazing story, Your Brother is smiling down on your whole Family, seeing that you carried his wishes through… God Bless you and your Family, and I hope this continues to carry on for quite some time…..
HI!i’m from argentina and i just saw the video!this is fantastastic…i don’t have the words to say how exacly i feel now!what you are doing is amasing! i wish i could donate something but i’m still on highschool! i lost my father a couple of month ago and it hurts but he left us things to live for, and i feel that he is right by my side more than ever!!i can tell you will get realy far with this project! i hope you the best!
Amazing story! I am deeply sorry for your loss and at such a young age. In my life I haven’t met too many people with a heart of Gold. Though I didn’t know Aaron, he still makes an impact in the world he left. Indeed he was Angel and an Angel was also gained in heaven. God bless you all ! from Wemindji, Quebec, Canada.
My daughter and I went to lunch on 7/14/12, our bill totaled $15.00 and some change. Our waitress was really busy and we noticed a lot of tables around her leaving $1.00 and $2.00 tips. We wrote her a note that told her about Aaron’s wish and this website. We then left her a $40.00 tip. We could see her face through the window as she shared the news with everyone and read the note we left, we passed on the wish and the happiness
we were blessed also.
I believe in overtipping and this story confirms that we should all do it whenever we can, for however much we can!!
http://teacherbites.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-lies-beneath.html
Good luck with your project – may your brother’s spirit live on in each of us!!
What a wonderful story!! I also love how this “pay it forward” moment has touched so many, including myself. Aaron Collins, thank you and may you rest in peace and to Aaron’s entire family, GOD BLESS YOU!
P.S. I am not one to normally “donate on line,” but was compelled to do just that after reading your story and watching the video.
Just wanted to say thanks for sharing, it has been such an inspiration to me. I know these acts of SHEER kindness will effect peoples lives for years to come…May you and your family be BLESSED in a great way, what an awesome legacy to AARONS life… God Bless you all!!!
Please send an e-mail if you do this! We would love to hear about it.
Good choice of the pizza place, the name of a composer of a funeral song, how appropriate.
I hope some people read this.
The last wish of that man was absolutely fantastic. Noone ever really thinks about their servers. the sad fact is theres alot of us out there and not all of us are going to receive anything from this but if people take notice then maybe it could help. I have been a server for years so i do know what i am talking about. servers make around $2.13/hr. we do not get minimum wage, it may have went up for everyone else but not us. there is actually alot of work, and bull to put up with when you are a server. youd be amazed how many doesnt realize that we dont get paid more on the hour. that may be a reason why some dont tip well if they do tip at all. they think we already get minimum wage. so if several people do this then it makes a hard day. we put up with alot of rude people too. theres always someone that acts like they are the only people there, or act as if the server personally cooked their food. some put their finger on a item, order it then fuss because they get it and they swear its not what they ordered. we caught one ruining his own food when he was being rude, not knowing he was seen, then go to the register and complain loudly to management about the server to get the free meal. ive caught one with a pill bottle full of bugs and was putting them in his food to get free meal. theres the ones that order easy eggs then when they get easy eggs theyre mad cause theyre runny. so they talk to the server like they are stupid.” cant you TELL these arent done??” after a point its like you dont care anymore so you say how do you want them? over easy whites are runny, medium whites are done…they never apologize when they realize their mistakes. some people think we are their babysitters and turn wild kids loose to run the walkway and bounce in the seats, etc. i sometimes wonder what their floor looks like at home because ours would be covered with trash and food. dont get me wrong there are nice people out there that understand but this job really isnt a piece of cake. i could write a huge article on it. so please people, think of the server that is working, they got to what you want and make the visit a good one, then clean up after some really nasty people, touching god knows what(i had a customer tell me they just got to feeling better from recuperating from a bad contagious illness, we had to strip table down and bleach everything after they left, thats how bad it was)we got to sweep, mop stock, clean all kinds of stuff. dont just assume everyone else is leaving something because everyone else might be thinking the same thing. and also, just because they are a server doesnt mean they have to listen to you yell and cuss them, service can be turned down for any reason. or think of what if the server was your mom, you or your child and there was people being rude, etc. please be thankful for service because they will remember you and they will tell every other server about you if youre mean. and we do appreciate good people
exactly. i bet you met alot of people that didnt know thats all you make a hour. i know i have. theres been days when you wonder if the kiddos are getting hotdogs, burger or something better like chicken. i worked for years and was afraid to ever take off for vacation time. its not like i could take them anywhere good anyways so we all had daydreams of it. and to whoever might make a smart remark about another job. some of us might be looking for another, or go to college, etc.