Our Mission
Adversity defeats people daily.
By inspiring and empowering others to develop:
Growth,
Resilience,
Initiative and
Tenacity,
The AaronStrong Foundation provides individuals with the tools to confront and persevere through adversity to build inner strength.
Diamond Contributors
Shane Greene - Detroit Tigers
Mark Stolarski
Platinum Contributors
John and Nancy Nilsen
Hancock Real Estate Team
Rojas Properties
Click HERE
to become a contributor!
Our
Goals
The AaronStrong Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to inspiring individuals and groups to lead thoughtful, focused, hopeful lives, choosing a lifestyle that is committed to minimizing the lows and celebrating the highs that come with the power of positive thinking and use of a growth mindset.
Whether it is your individual, family, or professional life, or your team, business, church, or organization, utilizing a growth mindset will help everyone get the most out of all aspects of their lives.
AaronStrong presentations challenge you to win the battle over both internal and external factors in life over which you have no control.
We want you to unleash the power within yourself, to teach you what it means to use GRIT strategies, and to inspire you to become the champion of your own life!
David's Story
David Bultema
Growing up, David’s childhood was similar to that of many American families. His parents were blue collar workers who had enjoyed their share of success, as well as their share of struggles. But they were determined to provide a solid stable home for their family. It was an environment that should have encouraged David to follow in their footsteps and become a solid contributor to society. However, regardless of the experiences presented to him, David's perceptions and responses focused on the negative, which then resulted in a lack of success and a low satisfaction with life.
David’s GPA halfway through high school was a 1.6. He had allowed life situations that were outside of his control to negatively affect other aspects of his life.
“I let one tough situation control me, which then turned into multiple other tough situations. I always made excuses about why it wasn’t my fault. My perspective was all wrong."
Until one day, when David had a defining moment...
EGL Genetics Blog
In Memory of Aaron — How You Changed Our Lives
Hope. Faith. Family. These three things have been our focus and have strengthened tremendously through Aaron’s journey. Although we could've easily chosen a path leading to destruction following the loss of our son, we instead chose a path of recovery. That choice made one of the toughest times of our lives one of the greatest blessings.
When David and I found out we were expecting again we were surprised, but very excited. The thought of a third child was a little scary. While David was worrying about how he would handle a potential girl in the mix of all boys, I had other concerns...
AaronStrong
Perseverance Scholarship Winner
Suzanne Chaar
When Suzanne Chaar immigrated to the U.S., she did not speak a word of English and had little familiarity with American culture. Now, she is graduating from UCF with aspirations towards a career in medicine.
Read the full article HERE.
Click HERE to access our Scholarship page.
GRIT Spotlight
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September 18, 2019 - The Comeback Kid - One Year Later
Bailey Trinder
Only one year ago, Bailey Trinder was starting his junior year at Foundation Academy, active on the football team and eager for a great season. But a tragic car accident on September 6th, 2018 left him with a 3% chance of survival. After 46 long days at Orlando Health, he miraculously went home to his family in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.
He returned to school the following January and turned a corner mentally and physically. Even though he had ongoing occupational therapy, he was ready to tackle the real world and get back on track with his schooling and activities. His teachers and friends were an immense support system, as well as his family and local church. They all made acclimating back into normal life smooth for Bailey.
But he had some adjusting to do. After the accident, Bailey’s thoughts shifted from normal teenage worries like how he would perform in the next football game, to, How can I help my teammates now, from the sidelines?
Even arriving at places required him to think, Where is the easiest access point for my wheelchair that won’t be too much stress on my arms and shoulders?
The AaronStrong Foundation celebrates
$75, 000 in donations!
In January of 2016 when David Bultema registered AaronStrong Foundation as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization, his dream was to encourage people struggling through adversity. He had trudged through the valley of death and disappointment, exemplifying what it means to find hope on the other side.
Because fundraising came naturally to him, the vision was to raise funds to give to specific non-profits already in place, such as Trisomy 18 Foundation and Central Florida hospitals. Because of his story, those were close to his heart. (Click HERE for David's Story).
What he didn’t know was that in just three years, the foundation would celebrate $75,000 in donations to not only non-profit organizations, thus fulfilling his dream, but local families suffering adversity. His story of pushing through extreme adversity would impact his community of Central Florida in such a personal way.
He couldn’t have dreamed of being surrounded by “AaronStrong believers”- those who focus more on the comeback than the setback, and a loyal community that stands behind their neighbors during times of trial.
This month, we are humbly celebrating the following remarkable ways we were able to connect with our community over the past three years with a total of $75,000 in donations.
Perseverance Scholarships for Students
Over $6000 in scholarships for higher education were given to 11 students from local high schools and colleges as a reward for their gritty attitudes in the midst of physical, social and economic challenges.
“Perseverance can only lead to happiness, for even when you fail to reach the stars, you still make it over the mountains.”
Sydney Countryman from Lake Minneola High School said that writing a personal essay about her adversity with a nerve condition was very difficult, and she shed a lot of tears in the writing process. But the hope that there was a silver lining to her pain kept her going. She used the scholarship money to pay for several textbooks for her freshman year.
Suzanne Chaar from East Ridge High School wasn’t sure she would be able to fulfill her dream of attending UCF. When she received the award, a huge weight fell off her shoulders because she realized she could.It was such a relief not to worry about money. She thought, “Okay, I can go to college now.” Click HERE to see the latest on Suzanne's educational journey.
Jose A. Perez from South Lake High School shares this personal thought for all those struggling with adversity: “Perseverance can only lead to happiness, for even when you fail to reach the stars, you still make it over the mountains.”
Wheelchair for Young Girl in Need
In 2018, we gifted a local 5-year-old with a $3000 wheelchair that was not covered by insurance. David and Leah Bultema met her through friends and were humbled at the chance to give back to someone in our area who has made it this far with the rare disorder of Trisomy 18. (Read the story behind Aaron Bultema HERE.) Most children diagnosed with the genetic syndrome do not make it to birth, and only 5-10% survive the first year.
It was a unique opportunity to be a blessing to others affected by Trisomy 18.
Donations to Trisomy 18 Foundation
We have also been able to donate over $2,000 to Trisomy 18 Foundation founded in 2003
to raise awareness of the genetic syndrome, also known as Edward’s syndrome.
The Foundation provides support and community to families suffering from the diagnosis.
They also advocate research, treatments, and prevention.You may notice that we seem to
highlight the numbers 3 and 18 a lot. It is not an accident, because as hard as our struggles are,
symbols remind us to push through and make a better tomorrow. The 18 represents the
Trisomy 18 syndrome, and the 3 represents that it contains a third chromosome when there
should only be two.
In our grief, seeds are planted that grow to reach out to others. What we do after the loss is what defines us.
Family and Individuals Experiencing Setbacks
Our amazing community reaches out when they know someone suffering a setback and AaronStrong has been able to donate $4000 to specific family and individuals. Whether it is a death in the family, an illness or an injury, the hope is that they realize others have walked through dark valleys too and they are not alone. They can keep fighting through, knowing that they have a community of support surrounding them.
We were also happy to donate to South Lake Hospital’s program that purchases dinner for families staying at the hospital. We gave $318 to help pay for meals in the fall of 2018.
DJ Myers and Family
When David saw Coach Woolum post on social media that one of his football players at South Lake High School suffered a devastating injury during a game, he jumped at the chance to donate to help out the family. As he realized how much the family was about to come up against, he rallied the masses, even getting the principal at Lake Minneola behind the effort.
“I’m broken but not defeated.”
They campaigned for three weeks to raise over $3000. Even though David didn’t know them personally he showed up at the hospital to encourage them before they headed home to start the long journey of recovery. DJ Myers spent three months at Orlando Regional Medical Center and has since returned to the football sideline, in his wheelchair, to cheer on his teammates. He is paralyzed from the waist down
but is hoping to finish high school and go on to college.
In November of 2018, his #1 jersey was retired at South Lake High School. He’s been known to say, “I’m broken but not defeated.” His spirit is strong. Not only did the family appreciate the effort, but David’s heart was being prepared for another injury that would hit his community.
DJ Myers
Bailey Trinder and Family
Bailey Trinder
On September 6, high school student Bailey Trinder was involved in a terrible car accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. His miraculous recovery after fighting a 4% chance of survival and spending 46 days in the hospital is credited to all the prayers and support from the community.
In total, $45,000 was raised for the Trinder family.
He returned to school on January 7th in his wheelchair and is adjusting to his new "normal.
" He is overwhelmed by the support of his school, Foundation Academy.
AaronStrong hosted several fundraisers from September-December for the Trinder family. In total, $45,000
was raised for the Trinder family. But in special recognition and tradition of the foundation, we added
$318 to the total. The family is grateful for the prayers and support of the community as well as the donations.
THANK YOU!
100% of our revenue comes in from fundraising, events, and donations. We rely on our community to come behind the mission of AaronStrong and give to keep us around. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to write such a big check to Bailey Trinder’s family or provide a wheelchair for a little girl. Our gratitude for your support cannot be overstated.
A special shout-out to our Diamond Contributors: Matt & Chelsea at Hancock Real Estate, Shane Greene with the Detroit Tigers, and Mark Stolarski.
We also want to recognize our Platinum Contributors: John and Nancy Nilsen, Rojas Properties, and Patty Raspa.
To anyone else who has participated in our annual 5K or golf tournament, signed up to donate monthly or came to our many local fundraisers with Bucks for Bailey and others, Thank you! We hope these stories encourage you to get involved in the encouragement of our community.
Written by Kim Patton
Marketing Journalist for AaronStrong
