Our Mission
The Aspiring Kindness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public corporation to provide financial assistance to support and enhance the abilities of emergency responders and service providers. Additionally, we plan to support those organizations dedicated to serving the memory of those who have given themselves in our time of need and support those individuals’ families’ needs.
The Fire that Changed Our Lives
On January 19, 2000, tragedy struck at Seton Hall University. A fatal dormitory fire took the lives of three students, Aaron Karol, Frank Caltabilota, John Giunta, and injured 60 students and firefighters. It is one of the deadliest college fires in U.S. history.
Our Story
In connection with the tenth anniversary of the Seton Hall University tragedy, a group of Aaron Karol’s childhood friends founded The Aspiring Kindness Foundation. The charity was created to remember Aaron while raising funds to support emergency first responders, hospital burn units, and The Aaron Karol Memorial Scholarship.
What Aspires Us
Since the tragedy in 2000, the support for the victims has been incredible, but the financial assistance has waned over the years. Additionally, the local emergency providers who risked their lives to save innocent students have trouble obtaining funding due to subsiding federal and state budgets.
In the hope of aiding the heroic endeavors of first responders and emergency service personnel, The Aspiring Kindness Foundation has worked to raise capital for those impacted by the fire. Since the charity’s inception in 2010, the foundation has supported fire departments, burn units, and hospitals in the tri-state area.
Supporting The Community
In 2010, the foundation’s initial priority focused on supporting the emergency service providers that assisted Seton Hall University during the tragedy. For several years, the foundation’s fundraising initiatives supported the South Orange community as it worked to move past the tragedy. As a result of our efforts, we witnessed an incredible transformation and a noticeable impact on the community.
Our foundation has evolved to help numerous other organizations in the tri-state area. As time passes, The Aspiring Kindness Foundation continues to expand its reach and make a meaningful impact.