When Aidan was four he told his Mom he didn’t want to wait to be 18 to be a difference maker. He was already a thoughtful joy-based giver and it only got better from there. 
 
He is his 10th year serving and sharing thousands of hours since reaching old and young with compassion and truth. He has partnered with hundreds of non-profits and has been a partoffund raising efforts for many charities. Aidan received the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Non-Violence in Generations of Exceptional Leadership) award in 2015 year alongside other givers such as Orlando philanthropist Harris Rosen. He gave a powerful benediction prayer at King Holiday the same year, it was viewed by millions. Not once in the entire time serving has Aidan complained at the sacrifice of time to help change the world. Part of his mission is that he wants more children to be raised to give no matter the cost. Even if that means less of the norm for privileged littles and more structured gratitude and giving. He says many children are generally sad because they don’t give of themselves. He and his mother work tirelessly to help children and adults create contribution contracts to define what their ideal give would look like. Also, he speaks on connectedness and detaching from electronic devices to create real relationships in busy detached lives.
 
Aidan has served over 500 charities, non-profits, schools and also given his time and talents to countless individuals in need. He and mother Toren, co-founder of Aidan Cares are a team, they work on all aspects together. “My Mom taught me to give. I never remember when she was not sharing whatever she had and giving and making a difference. She is a world changer and that was my goal to be like her.” Causes have ranged from serving children with cancer, the homeless, many schoolchildren, veterans and military causes, environmental causes such as spokesperson for Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Rally Foundation, Granting Grace Foundation for Childhood Cancer, Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, Captain Planet Foundation, Earth Day Kids Fest, Sky Ball, Atlanta Humane Society, Snowball Express, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and many others. Aidan has been a part of fundraising efforts that have raised millions of dollars for worthy causes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As an adult he plans to continue this journey. He wants to continue as a catalyst for change. “I want to help others learn to give no matter how small the amount, it all makes a difference.” He will work with youth from all backgrounds to find their passion in giving and create contribution contracts. To date thought the youth summits where he has served, Aidan has encouraged youth from over 30 nations to start their own giving initiatives. His first summit was Anthony Robbins Global Youth Leadership Summit in San Diego, he was invited personally by Mr. Robbins after they met at an event. That event in 2013, lead to Aidan being invited to share in Europe. He served alongside Harry Singha in Kent. Then he served also in Ireland, France and London that trip. He continues to Skype and guide youth from near and far. He hopes to visit Norway, Germany, Sweden and Italy soon. And he hopes to visit Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos as he has family friends living in Asia.
 

He believes we are all defined by how we treat the least of these, which could mean anyone anytime right beside you. "Need means many things, it may not be someone living under a bridge but suffering in a different way in a mansion.” Aidan always shares the message that wellbeing will always be lacking when one is not giving and serving on a regular basis. He says, “Otherwise, you come up empty.” We are at a horrific type of epidemic of entitlement, selfishness and extreme disconnection in our society. He teaches on the topics of connection in disconnected times, social responsibility, love as an act, being available to serve and modeling giving to others. The focus is this: running to need is the answer, not ignoring it. 
 
In the past few years, Aidan came to the sad reality that his commitment to serving others is rare for his generation. He does not wish to be rare. It’s a true battle and he is in it to make a difference and help other natural born givers begin along their path to giving.  A concern is that many born to give, never get to experience giving in any capacity and then live out unfulfilled lives.
 
Aidan has given 4 TEDx Talks. At age 11, was the keynote speaker for United Way 75th Anniversary in Savannah Georgia, the philanthropic keynote for Hard Rock International at age 12, and also has been featured on Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and other outlets nationally. In May 2016 , Aidan shared the main stage at Leadercast, the largest one day speaking event in the world with an audience of over 100,000 along with Steve Wozniak co-founder of Apple, Coach Nick Saban of the University of Alabama and others. Aidan was born in Marietta, Georgia.
 
In addition to his passionate mission, Aidan loves exploring other cultures, hanging out with people of all ages, food, photography and his favorite sport is basketball. Aidan also serves and mentors youth and adults as often as he can. Each weekend in Atlanta he serves children in the housing projects where he is deeply committed to imparting validation into the little ones. He works to encourage peers and adults alike in their giving paths. He is a co-captain of Adopt a Block in one of Atlanta’s poorest communities. 
 
His college team is the UNC Tar Heels. Also, he loves the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. Aidan attends Khan Academy online and is tutored for homeschool.
 
He plans to teach, sing, serve and highlight needs in the world the rest of his days.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toren Anderson is Aidan’s mother. also worked with thousands of people in need across the US and with charities and service organizations. She works alongside Aidan teaching breakout sessions, speaking at engagements and more to help people identify practical ways to reach hurting people. She has coordinated hundreds of outreaches and events all based on giving and shares on simple ways all of us can be the change in our world and how we can create legacies that matter.

Toren and her son Aidan, age 17, co-founded Aidan Cares an awareness initiative imparting the joy and necessity of giving to others in January 2009. They are celebrating their 10th year beginning in January of 2018.  They have worked tirelessly as a team with the knowledge and mission that love is an act. They have reached millions with their mission. Moving forward, she plans to continue encouraging and teaching leaders, parents and youth that they have a giving purpose in them and she is a part of igniting their path. “This story is about a boy and his mother saying yes. We don’t want what Aidan and I do to be seen as unique or special, we want it to become commonplace. That is our dream. We will continue sharing how easy it is to jump tracks and give as long as we live.” 

 

In addition to serving with Aidan, she is also a consultant in creative branding. This year she plans to launch clients that want to make their mark in the world. 

 

Toren and Aidan reside part time in Savannah. They love their time in the Lowcountry. Also, they love to discover new cultures and have friends from all over the globe. One important lesson is that one can find their passion at any time and can re-invent their lives. She loves interior design, floral design, cooking and makes their home open often to those in need of some love and a homecooked meal. Aidan calls it a bad BnB because “people check in but they don’t check out.” When they leave, Toren just hopes they are encouraged and hopeful and in a better place. "It is a cold cruel world at times. We all need to open our homes."

 

She is the mother of 2 sons, her oldest Blake is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and now serves in communications at National Children’s Alliance an amazing and important non-profit in Washington D.C.